Why a forest of steel has cropped up in a South Bank car park
Sydney Morning Herald
by Cameron AtfieldFebruary 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
A South Bank car park has become an unexpected scene of engineering effort as more than 100 steel jacks were installed to reinforce its roof ahead of a major concert series on the Cultural Forecourt. Concerns over the structural integrity of the car park’s lower slab prompted this precautionary measure, with engineers redistributing the weight above using a tightly arranged grid of shoring jacks. This setup is designed to prevent localized collapse under the heavy load expected from the 5000-capacity temporary stage.
The concert series, known as On the Banks, features performances by notable artists like King Stingray, Marina with Mallrat, and Bernard Fanning. Senior lecturer Dr. Hossein Derakhshan from Queensland University of Technology highlighted that floors designed for lighter loads, such as car parks, may not withstand higher stress from event stages. He noted that while this might not indicate a design flaw, it reflects the need for adaptive engineering when repurposing spaces for heavier uses.
Arts Queensland emphasized that these supports are part of thorough planning to ensure safe pop-up events. Alternative parking arrangements have been made available during the festival, with the QPAC car park expected to reopen fully in late March. This approach aligns with best-practice event management and underscores the importance of detailed site preparation for large-scale gatherings.
This story highlights the challenges of repurposing infrastructure for temporary high-traffic events and the critical role of engineering solutions in ensuring public safety. While such measures can seem unusual, they reflect a proactive approach to managing risks associated with reconfiguring built environments. For readers interested in global event planning and urban infrastructure, this illustrates how even minor structural concerns can have significant consequences when human activity scales up.
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Originally published on Sydney Morning Herald on 2/24/2026