-ill?- Si AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE Site S £ SECTION 5 i If*, PAPERS I PERTH WESTERN AUSTRALIA i 1973 Si, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE 45TH CONGRESS, PERTH 13 - 17TH AUGUST, 1973 SECTION 5 - ENGINEERING PAPERS III ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ANZAAS Section 5 - Engineering papers for the 45th Congress have been preprinted and presented, free of charge, to all registrants for Section 5. All costs for preprinting of papers have been borne by organisations outside ANZAAS and their generous contributions are acknowledged. The contributing organisations were: ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING ENGINEERS, AUSTRALIA - W.A. CHAPTER CEMENT AND CONCRETE ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA - W.A. DIVISION INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, AUSTRALIA - WESTERN AUSTRALIA DIVISION MAIN ROADS DEPARTMENT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA THE SUNDAY INDEPENDENT, PERTH IV AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE 45TH CONGRESS PERTH; 1973 SECTION 5 - ENGINEERING: SPEAKERS SPEAKER" :;; DAY OF-:;, PAGE -SYMPOSIUM BEDBROOK/ G.M. BRODIE-HALL, L.C. THU 93 DOYLE, H.A. TUE *not available GORHAM, E.R. MON 1 HANCOCK, L.G. TUE 21 HOWROYD, L.H. MON 9 HUNT, H.E. WED 49 KEAYS, J.F. MON \ 13 KING, B.E. TUE 33 LETHAM, D.D. WED 41 LOCKETT, H.A. FRI 101 MALCOLM, C.V. THU 85 NOBLE, E.L. FRI 45 PARKER, L. FRI 97 PAYNTER, J. THU 53 SAMUEL, P. FRI 109 SPRINGETT, J.A. WED * WATERMAN, P. THU * WILKIN, W.J. TUE 37 AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE 45TH CONGRESS, PERTH. 1973 SECTION 5,-^ ENGINEERING; PROGRAMME MONDAY 13TH AUGUST; DEVELOPING THE NORTH-WEST Chairman: Sir Charles Court, M.L.A., Perth 09.15 - 09.45 Mr. E.R. Gorham, Deputy Co-ordinator, i Department of Development and De- I centralisation, W.A. 09.45 - 10.15 Mr. L.W. Howroyd, Architect, ; Technico 10, Pty. Ltd., Perth 10.15 - 10.45 Discussion , i 10.45 - 11.15 Break , 11.15 - 12.15 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS; THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND THE ENVIRONMENT , Mr. J.F. Keays, President, Assoc- ! iation of Consulting Engineers, j Australia Chairman: Mr. E.E. Freeth, G.E.C. of Australia, j Perth 12.15 - 12.45 Discussions TUESDAY 14TH AUGUST; PEACEFUL NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS i Chairman: Prof. D.J. AlLen-Williams, Department | of Mechanical Engineering, University j of Western Australia 09.15-09.45 Mr. Lang Hancock, Hancock & Wright, Perth 09.45 - 10.15 Mr. H. Doyxe, Geology Department, University of W.A. 10.15 - 10.45 Discussion 10.45 - 11.15 Break 11.15 - 11.45 Mr. B.E. King, State X-Ray Laborator- ies, Perth 11.45-12.15 Mr. W.J. Wilkin, Public Works Depart- ment, W.A. 12.15 - 12.45 Discussion VI SECTION 5 - ENGINEERING PROGRAMME - CONT'D WEDNESDAY 15TH AUGUST; ACCIDENTAL POLLUTION Chairman: Dr. G.B. Hill, G.B. Hill & Partners, Consulting Engineers, Perth 09,15 - 09.45 Dr. J.A. Springett, Ecological and Resource PlanhingTcbnsultantI, Perth 09.45 - 10.15 Dr. D.D. Letham, Terth . -------.—-.—--• 10.15 — 10.45 Discussion 10.45 - 11.15 Break ._-.'... ... 11.15 - 11.45 Capt. B.L. Noble, General Manager, Fremantle Port Authority 11.45 - 12.15 Mr. H.E. Hunt, Chief Engineer, Metropolitan Water Supjply, Sewerage and Drainage Board, Perth 12.15 - 12.45 Discussion THURSDAY 16TH AUGUST: MODIFYING THE ENVIRONMENT Chairman: Mr. P. Samuel, Consulting Civil Engineer, Perth 09.15 - 09.45 Mr. P. Waterman, Environmental Re- sources of Australia Pty. Ltd., Melbourne 09.45 - 10.15 Mr. J. Paynter, Canberra, A.C.T. 10.15 - 10.45 Discussion 10.45 - 11.15 Break 11.15 - 11.45 Mr. C.V. Malcolm, Agricultural Scientist, Perth 11.45 - 12.15 Mr. L.C. Brodie-Hall, Western Mining Corporation, Perth 12.15 - 12.45 Discussion FRIDAY 17TH AUGUST: HUMAN ENGINEERING Chairman: Mr. J.F. Keays, Section 5 - Engineering President 09.15 - 09.45 Mr. L. Parker, Australian Administra- tive Staff College, Victoria 09.45 - 10.15 Miss H.A. Lockett, Merz & McLellan & Partners, Perth 10.15 - 10.45 Discussion 10.45 - 11.15 Break 11.15 - 11.45 Dr. G.M. Bedbrook, Royal Perth (Rehabilitation) Hospital, Perth 11.45 - 12.15 Mr. P. Samuel, Consulting Civil Engineer, Perth 12.15 - 12.45 Discussion VII Developing the North West Pastoral Industry During the late 1850's as a result of a boom in the wool and wheat industries "southern" E.E. GORHAMB.E., H.I.E. AUST. settlers began to show interest in the North. Interest was spurred by the report of Gregory's DEPUTY CO-ORDINATOR officially sponsored expedition in 1861 that DEPARTMEK OF DEVELOPMENT there were "large quantities of good pastoral AND DECENTPALISATION land". The first stock were landed near Cossack on the mouth of the Harding River by a Mr Walter Padbury in 1363 and due to lack of feed near the IHTRODOCTIOH landing were taken to a wateriny point on the Harding River. After a reconnaissance trip The history of civilizud contact with Australia's further north, Padbury decided to transfer all North West can be traced back for hundreds of years, his stock to the De Grey River. Meanwhile, perhaps even to the early 16th century when it is another settler, John Wellard, had also arrived in believed Portugese traders first touched the shores. the area, and he was followed shortly by John Among the better known of the early visitors are Withnell who settled on the Harding River where Dirk Hartog who explored Shark Bay in 1616, leaving Roebourne soon developed. behind a pewter dish as a memento; and William Dampier who landed at Cygnet Bay in 1688, and in Withnell landed 1,000 ewes, 50 ramr, 10 draught 1699 followed the coastline north from Shark Bay, horses and 10 cattle, but only 86 sheep, one cow naming Dampier Archipelago and Roebuck Bay. Dampier's and a horse survived the short journey inland. In disparaging reports discouraged further exploration addition, most of their goods, left on high ground by the British for over a century. It was not until at Cossack to await their return, were swept away 1863 - almost two centuries later - that the first in an abnormally high tide. settlers landed at the mouth of the Harding River. The first enterprising "southerner" to overland Pror then until recently the story has usually been stock from Geraldton was E.T. Hoc-ley, who arrived one of hardship and despair, frequently one of tragedy at the Fortescue in 1864 after a journey or three and only occasionally of fortune. The pattern has months, losing only 8 of his 1,920 sheep on the typically been boom or bust, a story of small pioneer- way. For this he was granted 100,000 acres rent ing communities clinging to the rim of a large free for 12 years by the Colonial government. inhospitable region, seeking riches in the face of The normal incentive was 100,000 acres rent free very long odds. for 4 years and low rent for the next eight years. The majority of Australians have only become aware of Despite numerous initial setbacks caused by the region since the Pilbara leapt into world prominence cyclones, lack of surface water, disease, and as a result of the recent development of its vast iron opposition from the aboriginal people, the pastoral ore reserves. In fact, although the North West has made industry made steady progress and by 1869 there were a significant contribution to the economy of the State, 39,000 sheep in the area. By this time, however, the it is disappointing that civilization has had c.ily prosperity cf the colony was waning, and wool, which minimal effect and it could be argued that discovery constituted more than half the total exports, was no and settlement might well have been delayed until 1960, longer booming. Less money was being invested by the the time of lifting of the iron ore export embargo. British Government and important markets were lost. To add to this, the town of Roebourne, established in Why has development been so slow? Obviously the inherent 1866, was completely destroyed in 1872 by a cyclone disadvantages of climate, remoteness, cyclones and the which also caused heavy stock lasses. Wit' "ell like have played a significant part in hindering more himself lost his house and 4,800 sheep out of a total extensive development. But could a greater degree of of 6,000. Subsequent storms in 1881 and 1832 caused initiative on the part of government have stimulated further heavy damage. more confidence in the region and hence a greater degree of stability? Even with four massive iron ore projects In the early days port and shipping facilities were the population of the northern half of the State is still non-existent and the pioneering pastoralists had to less than 60,000 (approximately 5.4% of W.A. population). cart their bales of wool to the nearest stretch of Yet it has been estimated that in the 1890"s when the bea~h to await the arrival of a ship. The bales trten population of the Colony, as it was then, was approaching had to be loaded from the drays into boats and taken 100,000, a third were located in the North West. out to the ship. The whole operation was threatened Admittedly this was at the height of the gold rush, but by fast rising tides and the threat of storms. On why wasn't this sufficient to stimulate further interest, one occasion a vessel belonging to Withnell was lost development and settlement of the North? In an attempt with 42 people and the total wool-clip.