Background
In December 2022, an external engineering report in Berri Barmera Council's principal office at 19 Wilson Street identified structural concerns within the building.
Council then relocated to 5 Riverview Drive to allow for further investigations. A second and more in-depth report was completed by a different engineering firm in 2024.
However, following receipt of two previous engineering reports for 19 Wilson Street, administration identified inconsistencies and conflicting findings, which did not provide satisfactory assurance regarding the structural integrity of the building. Given the need to ensure the safety of staff and community members prior to any re-entry, a decision was made to commission a third and final independent engineering assessment. A detailed scope of work was developed and released for tender, with five engineering firms submitting proposals.
An engineering company has now been appointed, following a thorough evaluation process and a scoping meeting to confirm expectations. The firm commenced the project on Monday 14 July 2025, with the assessment expected to take 8 to 10 weeks to complete.
Engineering investigations are currently underway, with MLEI Consulting Engineers having recently visited the site. Due to limited availability of accurate structural drawings, additional non-destructive testing has been authorised to confirm the building’s structural make-up and overall integrity.
While the investigations were initially expected to take 8 to 10 weeks, these additional tests are likely to extend the timeframe by around 2 to 3 weeks. Core drilling and soil sampling have been completed, with laboratory testing now in progress.
Plumbing pressure tests have also been undertaken and identified significant issues, including cracked pipes leaking about 500 litres per hour. While these are important matters to address, early costings indicate that repairs can be achieved in a cost-effective manner. The General Manager Infrastructure, Environment and Regulatory Services is working closely with the engineer and project manager to manage timeframes, noting that lease negotiations for 5 Riverview Drive will progress in parallel.
Although the final engineering report may not be available until after October, preliminary findings and verbal updates are expected earlier and will be brought to Council as part of the next update.
