Published: Sunday, 11 June 2017 at 11:01:00 AM
The Office of the Environmental Protection Authority has accepted Mid West Ports Authority’s (MWPA’s) plan to deliver an opportunistic, short term maintenance dredging program to clear a build-up of sediment within the Geraldton Tug Boat Harbour.
MWPA’s Health Safety Environment and Quality Manager Russell Stevens says, “the Tug Boat Harbour is the protected body of water where the tugs lay-up when not operating. The main harbour will not be dredged as part of this effort.
“The program will run for approximately 10 days, commencing Thursday 15 or Friday 16 June and will be delivered in compliance with MWPA’s Environmental Dredge Management Plan.”
Mr Stevens says, “the dredging program will remove approximately 5,000 cubic metres of unconsolidated sand which has been blown into high spots by the action of tug boat propellers over the last 15 years.
“These high spots are currently restricting the movement of the pilot boat within the Tug Boat Harbour and if left unchecked would eventually impact on the capacity of tugs to access and navigate safely within this Harbour.
“Cooper Dredging has been contracted and their mobilization to site has commenced. The task will be performed by their dredge vessel Mudlark I, an 18m positive suction dredge. This is the same dredge used to maintain river depths at Kalbarri and will therefore be familiar to many Geraldton locals.”
Mr Stevens says “the sand dredged from the Tug Boat Harbour will be transferred by a submerged pipeline that will run north from the Tug Harbour, parallel to the Esplanade and on to a position just west of Seal Rocks. From here the pipeline will cross the channel to the bunded area behind Berth 7. Because no sand is being disposed of at sea and due to the action of this suction dredge, a sand plume is not expected to cause any environmental or social concern.
“Because the pipeline is submerged it will not affect shipping movements into and from the main harbor,” Mr Stevens concluded.
For further information, please contact:
Russell Stevens - MWPA HSEQ Manager
Phone: (08) 9964 0534
Mobile: 0447 640 534
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