The Southern Star (observation Wheel) - Reconstruction

Reconstruction

Reconstruction work began in January 2011 with the delivery to Docklands of the first of the seven replacement spokes, manufactured by BMC, from the Latrobe Valley. In July 2011 the wheel was expected to be turning again by the end of the year. In October 2011 reconstruction was continuing, but no completion date had yet been confirmed.

On 28 November 2011 reconstruction work was still in progress when the wheel broke free from its restraints and began turning in strong winds, resulting in minor injuries for one of the workers as they fled the site. The next day, Southern Star Management issued a statement saying that bracing used to erect the wheel had failed, and that no final completion date for the wheel had yet been confirmed.

In December 2011 it was reported that the wheel was not expected to reopen before Easter 2012.

In January 2012 it was reported that an international team of experts including Arup (who were involved in both the London Eye and the Singapore Flyer projects) and Hyder Consulting had been engaged in the redesign, and that reconstruction was now expected to be completed some time in 2012.

In June 2012 it was reported that owner ING Real Estate had repeatedly refused to announce an estimated completion date, but that an estimated date might be given at a briefing of state government officials planned for July.

In August 2012 it was reported that the wheel could reopen in January 2013, but only if there was "no wind, no rain for the next four months" - an unlikely scenario for Melbourne, "a city renowned for extremely windy springs and rain that washes out the first cricket matches". According to spokesman Ken Davis, 70 per cent of available construction time was being lost each week as cranes and lifts on the site could not operate in bad weather. He also stated that "due to the complexity of the construction process, we are not in a position to make any announcements regarding a 2013 opening date". However, later that same month, after the final section of the rim was installed, he stated "we're hoping it will be completed by the middle of next year".

In January 2013, the wheel's owner, ING, advised that it will not re-open until the second half of 2013 and in April 2013, the wheel was renamed Melbourne Star.