Local Expertise Delivering Long-Term Results

The contract to deliver the remedial works has been awarded to Advanced Aqua Blasting, a locally owned company established in 1998 by David Gianotti. AAB first secured work at Lucinda in 2009 and has since partnered on projects across the state.

The company will employ 10 Advanced Aqua Blasting staff on the project and has reinforced its purchase-and-employ-local policy throughout mobilisation. Local businesses including Diggers Plumbing, Lucinda Electrical Services, Henry Solari at NQ Garages and Sheds, Bark Concreting, Bike and Power Ingham, Devietti Ag and Machinery, and welding specialists from Ingham Agencies have contributed equipment, trades and materials.

The remediation process involves detailed welding repairs, with 2 staff from Ingham Agencies. Advanced Aqua Blasting staff will do precision abrasive blasting of steel headstocks, full repainting, and the fitting of Denso jackets to protect piles from ongoing marine exposure.

For AAB, as a locally owned company, to be entrusted with extending the life of such a critical asset for the Herbert River sugar industry, securing that contract meant so much.

“The sugar industry is the lifeblood of the Ingham district and the Lucinda Bulk Sugar Terminal is critical for the shipping of the raw sugar to refineries. How vital the terminal was to the local sugar industry was evident in the aftermath of cyclone Yasi, where the sugar had to be road transported to Townsville.”

“Advanced Aqua Blasting won the contract through having a proven track record in working with QSL, where high safety, environmental protection and quality are the benchmarks achieved before and are expected again.”

Prioritising local trades, subcontractors and suppliers is central to AAB’s approach, and shows a long-term project like this will benefit the wider community.

“Advanced Aqua Blasting is not only a local company employing locals, but also a family company. Working beside owner David Gianotti is his son in law Damian, his son Tamatoa, his wife Juvie and his brother Geoff.”

“This multi-million-dollar contract is 4 years in length, so with the employ and buy local mindset and with 6 scaffolding staff from out of town living in the district for 10 months of the year, the economic flow on will be substantial.”

“Over its four-year lifespan, the project represents sustained economic activity for the region, supporting jobs, suppliers and local businesses while protecting the infrastructure that underpins one of North Queensland’s most important industries.”

Advanced Aqua Blasting is proud to uphold the responsibility and standards required for such complex marine remediation works. The company has brought the skills and expertise needed to carry out this specialised work in a challenging marine environment, supporting the long-term future of the Lucinda Bulk Sugar Terminal and the regional industry it serves.

Caption LEADERS: Back row L-R Andrew La Spina, Daniel Castorina, David Ruggieri, all QSL Lucinda staff. Front row L-R Damian Floyd of Advanced Aqua Blasting, Monica Accornero of QSL Lucinda, David Gianotti and Geoff Gianotti of Advanced Aqua Blasting.

Caption CROWDSHOT: All the attendees of the briefing session, across both QSL and AAB. Photo credit: Victoria Velton

Caption LEARNING: Project workers gathered at the Slipway restaurant for a briefing session. Photo credit: Victoria Velton

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