HEAVY machinery has been used for several days to remove built-up sand from the Beachport recreational boat ramp at a cost of $80,000.
Contractors have used a truck, an excavator, a drag-flow dredge, a large crane and front-end loader to undertake the scheduled maintenance in the area.
Wattle Range Council engineering services director Peter Halton said the work started on November 15 and was scheduled to finish today.
According to Mr Halton, the work was timed for this month as the major yearly storm events had passed.
He said the drag-flow dredge came from Maritime Constructions Pty Ltd in Adelaide and was lowered in place by a crane hired from Sharp’s Cranes in Millicent.
He said the sand was piped to an area near the jetty.
“The drag-flow is not suitable for use near the bottom of the boat ramp and so we use the traditional means of an excavator and the sand is then trucked away,” Mr Halton said.
“This sand is used for replenishment and erosion management.
“There is some odour (during sand management activities) due to the decomposition of material.
“I was down there this morning (Wednesday) and the smell will dissipate and only be a short-term issue.”
Earlier this month, council held confidential talks about a capital purchase relating to the boat ramp.
The minutes show council decided to allocate $35,000 to the capital works budget for the purchase of dredge pipe for the pumping of sand from the Beachport boat ramp basin to nearby beaches.
The latest sand management activities have drawn a number of onlookers to the area and created disquiet in some sectors about the cost.
Barbara Cameron, of the Beachport Beach Care Group, has witnessed the latest round of coastal action.
Her group is a long-time opponent of the siting of the boat ramp.
“I do not have any evidence, but I think this is going to be somewhat expensive,” Ms Cameron said.
“Due to the site, it was never going to be cheap.
“There should be a user-pays system with higher fees charged for users of the ramp.”
Ms Cameron also has concerns about the sand management practices of council and claims they are changing the shoreline significantly.
Other locals have expressed their concern at the cost of the sand management activities to The South Eastern Times, but wished to remain anonymous.
