Pacific Harbour dredging to get underway next year
Published 17 March 2021
A temporary pipeline will be used to remove sediment build-up in Pacific Harbour, to ensure residents can safely access and use the canal estate.
Council’s decision today means work can get underway to obtain the state government approvals required for the removal of 75,000 m3 of material from the canal bed and transport it to a processing facility at Ningi.
Mayor Peter Flannery said tenders would be called later this year, to start dredging in 2022.
“Construction will involve installing a temporary pipeline, with several booster pumping stations, across Pumicestone Passage to pump the spoil directly from Pacific Harbour to Ningi,” he said.
“Council has determined that this is the most efficient, safe and environmentally friendly option to transport the spoil rather than trucking it from Bribie Island to Ningi.
“Transporting the spoil by road would’ve seen a truck crossing the bridge every 8-13 minutes. We estimate that’d be 8,000 return trips over a year-long dredging period.
“Council has determined that this would’ve caused unnecessary disruption on local roads and CO2 emissions.
“Comparatively, the temporary pipeline system is expected to only require 60 truck movements across the bridge when installing the dredging infrastructure.
“It will also be faster to complete the dredging. Using the cutter suction dredge and temporary pipeline option, the duration of dredging will be around 28 weeks, which is significantly shorter than the estimated 51 weeks if we’d used a grab dredge and trucks.
“We will now prepare environmental management and safety plans for the state government’s review so, all going well, we should be ready to start work in early 2022.
“This is a lengthy process but we want to get it right.”
Cr Brooke Savige (Div 1) said she wanted to ensure the environmental planning was watertight and that plans to mitigate noise and odour impacts for Ningi residents were in place.
“I’m pleased to say we’ve already planned ahead and have been regenerating native vegetation as well as removing weed species, and building stormwater drainage at the Ningi processing facility since 2019 to establish a green buffer between homes near the site,” she said.
“Doing this long before dredging begins means the trees will be well established because our longer-term goal is to enrich the environmental values in this area by providing new habitat for native wildlife and enhancing the look of the site.
“This will be a progressive revegetation program that we’ll roll-out over many years.
“Before we call for tenders later this year Council’s Infrastructure Planning department will obtain all the requisite statutory approvals, meaning the project will only proceed under strict conditions.
“Having these state government reviews and approvals in place before the contract is awarded will ensure the successful tenderer knows from the outset the high environmental and operational standards they’ll be required to meet.
“I look forward to work starting next year and keeping our community updated on this project.”
For more information on the Pacific Harbour Maintenance Dredging Project visit: https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/Services/Projects/Bribie-Island-Road-Ningi