Elsie Adamo
DREDGING is finally underway at Beachport’s boat ramp, after delays due to border closures.
Originally intended for September, the annual activity had no choice but to start late after the contractors were turned away at the border.
The delay has meant dredging is actively occurring during the professional crayfishing season, when the ramp is in daily use.
Beachport professional fisherman Shannon Moran said while it would have been better to have the dredging completed earlier, the contractors have done their best to work around the professional fisherman.
“Obviously it would be good if it was dug out right at the start of our season, the locals are always keen to get their pots out on October 1,” he said.
“They have done all they can under the situation, we understand why it is late.
“The system they have got to be able to maneuver around us is brilliant, there is never any waiting once they start dredging, they always make room for you.
Wattle Range Council chief executive Ben Gower said the dredging delay this year was unavoidable.
“We like to try and get the ramp dredged before the crayfishing season starts, so we always book in advance of that, and then the borders got in the way,” Mr Gower said.
“We literally had to wait for the borders to lift.
“We work pretty well with the fisherman, they are used to working with the tides, so as best they can, they will wait for high tide.
The area around the boat ramp will be dredged to four meters deep, which will likely settle to around three meters soon after.
“We aim for two dredges a year, one before the beginning of the season, and one sort of February or March if it is silting up too much,” Mr Gower said.
“The last couple of years we have gotten away with just one.
“It is normally the winter weather that determines how much sand movement we get, over summer with the calmer seas you get a lot less build up.
The contractors are in their third year or a seven year contract, and Mr Gower expected them to become more efficient with the dredging process each time they undertake the project.
But there may be more updates to come, with sections of the boat ramp pontoons due to be replaced next year, and further potential upgrades flagged by a yet to be released report.
“Last year we put a whole bunch of senses in Rivoli Bay to see what is happening with tidal movements,” said Mr Gower.
“All that data was then shipped off to and environmental scientific organisation to analyse it.
“They have come back with a fairly technical report making some recommendations on how we can improve a couple of infrastructure elements around the bay.”
Mr Gower was unable to advise when the report would be finalised, but indicated recommendations would be discussed by council once published.
“We are waiting for a second company to convert that technical report into words that the community will be able to digest a little easier,” he said.
“Then we will be coming to talk to the community about those recommendations.”
