SA is poised to again host national rowing, canoe/kayak and dragon boating events following a $2.4 million upgrade of the A.M. Ramsay Regatta Course at West Lakes. West Lakes is 25 minutes west of the Adelaide CBD and has a man-made saltwater lake as its centrepiece.

Close by is AAMI Stadium, and together with the multi-user regatta course forms a sports hub in the western suburbs. The 2,000m regatta course was established on the lake in 1976 but recently lost its facility accreditation. Following completion of the upgrade the course will be able to increase its capacity to host school children, elite and amateur athletes and the general public under safer conditions.

With state government funding, Coombs & Barei Constructions has overseen the construction of a lane-cabling system, associated piling, starting and finishing pontoons and a starter’s tower. Manufacturing of project components began in January this year, while on-site construction started in early April. The upgrade will be completed in mid-2009.

The design is based on the Albano system, which is an underwater cable and piling system that allows buoys to be positioned on the surface of the water to delineate the course lanes without interfering with the users. The project required 38 timber piles each approximately 8m long, and more than 20,000m of synthetic cabling. Piles were driven in using a piling rig mounted on a 15m x 12m barge. No dredging was required.

The course is on a north-south axis. Three longitudinal cables are permanently in place 1.5m below the surface of the lake with buoys spaced every 10m. Permanent cross cables run between the piles 1.5m below the surface at 250m intervals along the western and eastern boundaries of the course.

For regatta days the nine-lane course will be fully buoyed. The starting pontoon at the southern end remains in the water whereas the starter’s tower, 5.57m high x 4m wide, is removable after events. Permanency of the starting pontoon was deemed essential so as to allow elite athletes to train under race conditions every day. For shorter races it can be fixed to the 1,000m, 500m or 200m marks.

Ten piles are located behind the starting pontoon 1.5m below the surface for tensioning the longitudinal cables. New concrete and movable ramps link to the (removable) finishing pontoon, which allows easy access to and from the lake for users and their vessels. The finishing pontoon is adjacent the SA Rowing Association’s premises at the northern end of the course and also acts as a presentation area.

Project director Steve Woodrow says a major challenge was the “one-off” nature of the project resulting in a limited number of specialist contractors available. Given the harsh saltwater environment, certification of marine grade stainless steel components used on various elements of the facilities was required.

To ensure long-term durability and to maximise safety for all users, 6 mm Spectra (a synthetic cable) was used for the underwater course cabling. The upgrade will not change existing recreational usage on the lake although closures will occur for regattas.

Signs along the banks warn of the under water cabling system, and that piles in the lake are indicated by buoys. The SARA currently is seeking federal funding hat, if approved, will complete phase two of the facility upgrade.