Onsite activities for the planned dredging of the Harrington back channel will begin on Tuesday, 22 October, according to MidCoast Council.
Dredging Solutions will undertake the work on behalf of the Council and the team will start mobilization of the dredge, pipeline and booster pumps via the Gordon Smith Reserve boat ramp in Harrington on Tuesday, with dredging expected to begin on 28 October.
Dredging works are anticipated to take 10 weeks and will be completed in time for the busy Christmas period.
“ We’re really pleased to see this project coming to fruition and no doubt the wider Harrington community will be to o,” said Paul De Szell, MidCoast Council’s Director of Liveable Communities .
“ The need for dredging of the back channel has been identified over a long period of time by a number of local groups who regularly use that section of our river and this will result in improved navigation throughout the area, particularly during low tides .”
As reported, the project will involve the dredging of up to 15,000 cubic meters of marine sediments from the identified shallow areas of the back channel, ultimately resulting in a safer navigation for boat users.
“ The dredge spoil will be pumped via a dredge pipeline to the beach at Manning Point where it will be used to renourish that section of beach and provide a temporary sand buffer for ongoing beach erosion ,” Mr De Szell said.
As a result of the works, the Harrington boat ramp will be closed on Tuesday, 22 October to launch the dredge and associated equipment.
Boat users are advised to be aware of changed conditions in the area during the works period, including underwater, anchored pipelines and limited thoroughfare in the channel. A second closure of the boat ramp will be required at the end of the dredging.
Funding for the project is being sourced from a NSW Government “Rescuing Our Waterways” grant and Council’s environmental rate.