THE possibility of dredging Bucks Bay in Carpenter Rocks has been found unfeasible in a new study.
The feasibility study was originally requested by the Carpenter Rocks Professional Fishermen’s Association (CRPFA) in October 2021, in a letter to Grant District Council to help make more space for professional boats in Bucks Bay.
The CRPFA had expressed concerns about the limited space in the bay which has caused collisions between moored boats under certain weather conditions.
Wavelength Consulting was hired to undertake the feasibility study which was presented at a council meeting on Monday.
The study found while dredging could be completed, because of the challenging nature of the location, risks and costs estimated at $2.3 million, it was not recommended.
Alternative mooring options were also investigated instead of dredging, such as optimising current arrangements as well as screw, pile and fore and aft mooring.
Fore and aft mooring, where each boat is secured by two mooring points, was recommended as the only practical option that would be suitable for further investigation.
Council decided to continue to facilitate with the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) and the CRPFA regarding improved mooring opportunities in Bucks Bay.
