Nigretta Falls sits on the Wannon River in the Western District volcanic province, a spectacular setting of ancient volcanic rock, seasonal flows, and steep escarpments. It’s one of the region’s signature natural attractions, with established picnic areas, a descent to the river base, and a formal lookout—now renewed through this upgrade.
CHALLENGES AND Solutions
Download the full case study covering scope, delivery approach, and outcomes.
View Full Case Study1. Winter build in exposure.
Construction occurred through cold, wet, and windy periods typical of the Southern Grampians. We front-loaded off-site fabrication; on site, we used short work fronts and weather windows to complete rock drilling and concrete placements, then fastened prefabricated FRP modules under fall-arrest protocols.
2. Steep, rocky footing design.
Irregular rock faces meant achieving both bearing capacity and anchor pull-out targets while threading through root zones. We combined resin-bonded anchors (where specified) and cast-in sockets with controlled grout to meet the geotech acceptance criteria without blow-outs into fractured seams.
3. Legacy alignment, modern compliance.
Retaining the spirit of the original route while meeting AS 1657 and AS 2156.2 geometry was a key constraint; our stair modelling balanced comfort ratios with platform spacing to deliver compliant risers/goings and clear landings that feel natural in the landscape.
