Wonder Reef wins IPWEA awards

Gold Coast dive attraction Wonder Reef has won two awards in the IPWEA (Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia) 2024 Australasia Excellence Awards: Best Public Works Project between $2.0–$5.0m, and Project of the Year.

A combination of science, engineering and art, the Wonder Reef is a City of Gold Coast project located two kilometres and a 10-minute boat ride from the city, is 22 metres above the sea floor, has nine structural reefs that move with the ocean, and is the world's first buoyant reef, attracting ‘high spend’ dive tourists. Tourism Australia found international dive tourists spend up to 80% more and stay 30% longer than non-dive tourists. The City wanted to capture this growing market by delivering an iconic, purpose-built attraction on the Gold Coast.

The City of Gold Coast engaged Stantec to undertake technical investigations, site analysis work, and extensive consultation with the dive and tourism industries. Over about nine years, Stantec prepared met-ocean design parameters and approvals, assisted the council during contractor selection, design and installation, and monitored sway movements of the flutes and tethers in waves post installation. Engaged as the City’s project engineer, Stantec reviewed designer MMA Offshore’s investigative reports, and those of MMA Offshore’s sub-consultants.

Stantec’s Senior Principal of Coastal Engineering Doug Treloar was the project’s lead engineer. “This was an exciting project. It was the first time that engineering methodology from the offshore oil and gas industry was applied to the tourism industry,” said Treloar. “Based on twelve months of site monitoring, we knew the installation location was affected by severe ocean storms, so we made sure the robust reef structure could withstand cyclonic waves and had a minimum design life of thirty years.”

Stantec considered diver safety and stability of the structures in a harsh marine environment when doing detailed numerical cyclone modelling and complex wave and hydrodynamic modelling—establishing design wave and water level conditions. They also managed numerous approvals, including a sea dumping permit issued by the Commonwealth Government—conditional upon the Council’s commitment to environmental best practice from construction right through to ongoing maintenance of the Reef.

More than one hundred different fish, invertebrate and marine plant species have made Wonder Reef their home, including tropical fish, giant gropers, turtles, lobsters, octopus, and eagle rays. And the underwater structures are completely covered in soft corals. Wonder Reef also provides opportunities for globally significant scientific research. Thanks to Griffith University, a permanent hydrophone—an underwater microphone—is attached to the Reef capturing sounds of humpback whales during migration, with the sounds livestreamed to the public in real time.

Wonder Reef was officially opened to the public on World Ocean Day, 08 June 2022. In its first year of operation it was visited by over 1,100 divers, more than double the number estimated, injected $1.6 million into the Gold Coast economy, and boosted jobs for locals.

About Stantec
Stantec is a global leader in sustainable engineering, and environmental consulting. The diverse perspectives of our partners and interested parties drive us to think beyond what’s previously been done on critical issues like climate change, digital transformation, and future-proofing our cities and infrastructure.

We are designers, engineers, scientists, project managers, and strategic advisors. We innovate at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships to advance communities everywhere, so that together we can redefine what’s possible.

Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN.

Media Contact
Paul Bromiley
Stantec Media Relations
Ph: +61 429 529 174
paul.bromiley@stantec.com