KINGSTON District Council will not remove or adjust the Maria Creek breakwater after investigations revealed a $1.2m capital cost and an operational increase of $67,000 for sand and wrack management.
The coastal council considered a technical note for a partial breakwater removal concept after Kingston ratepayers voted against proceeding with the Maria Creek Boat Launching Facility.
Kingston mayor Kay Rasheed said the partial removal of the breakwater would come at a significant capital and operational cost compared to a “do nothing” concept.
Ms Rasheed said removing the offshore portion of the breakwater was forecast to cost $1.2m, as well as a three-fold increase in annual sand and wrack management costs in Maria Creek.
“When considering these costs and the potential for minimal reduced beach width of 45m at the jetty, compared to an increase in beach width of up to 25m for the do-nothing concept, council will not be looking to remove or adjust the breakwater, with the exception of minor repairs, for the foreseeable future,” she said.
“Another emerging factor is some findings of the recently adopted Coastal Adaptation Strategy which indicates various risks to erosion and flooding due to sea level rise.
“The sand accumulation adjacent the southern breakwater is providing an additional buffer zone for future storm events.”
Ms Rasheed said council would continue to progress plans for the Kingston Jetty, including a condition assessment and scope of works.
She said the $63,100 investigation would include water structural assessment as well as a diver’s inspection for the underwater components.
“Once armed with detailed design drawings, it is anticipated that these will become part of planning for an exciting new concept, which will explore a foreshore precinct development including rejuvenation of the Lions Park, while considering innovative linkages to the jetty area,” Ms Rasheed said.
“It is anticipated that linking it to the jetty precinct will improve its amenity and activate the foreshore and jetty area, as well as being more appealing to potential funding partners.”
Work on the first stage of the Kingston Jetty condition assessment is expected to start mid-August, with stage two being a scope of works to be finalised by the end of September 2021.
