- One-off dredging delivers improved vessel access at Carnarvon Fascine
- $3 million project continues in January with work to stabilise the sand spit
- More than 120,000 cubic metres of dredged material reclaimed
Dredging of the Carnarvon Fascine has seen safe navigation restored for recreational and commercial vessels in the area.
The State Government announced a $3 million one-off dredging campaign for the waterway earlier this year after technical studies confirmed that built options to improve vessel access were not viable long-term solutions.
As part of the $7 million multifaceted Carnarvon Fascine Entryway and Boat Harbour Pen Project, short-term measures to improve access were implemented while technical studies were undertaken to determine a sustainable long-term remedy to silting at the mouth of the waterway.
A two-year investigation to identify permanent ocean access options involved extensive research and studies. Several major capital reconfigurations were considered by a group of experts in the field and confirmed there was no financially viable long-term solution.
In April the Department of Transport (DoT) fast tracked and expanded its planned dredging of the boat harbour and Teggs Channel to include work at the Fascine entry and further stabilisation of the sand spit that breached in 2017 to limit the need for future works.
More than 120,000 cubic metres of material has been removed and reclaimed on the sand spit to date as part of the project. Dredging work continues in January with navigation aids and revegetation treatments anticipated to be complete by April 2024.
Find out more about the Carnarvon Fascine Entryway and Boat Harbour Pen Project:
As stated by Minister Assisting the Transport Minister David Michael:
“This is a timely result for local mariners and those visiting the Gascoyne over the summer months,” Mr Michael said.
“The decision to add to the planned dredging at Carnarvon was vital in delivering safe navigation now and also allowed for the efficient use of public resources with no duplication of cost to remobilise the dredge at a later date.
“Since 2020 the entryway project has delivered many benefits with the addition of 16 new floating boat pens at Carnarvon Boat Harbour and improvements to the boat launching ramp which have provided greater flexibility to skippers regularly navigating the Fascine.
“The work to improve access to the Fascine has resulted from close collaboration between DoT, the Shire of Carnarvon, Gascoyne Development Commission and Carnarvon Yacht Club.”
Comments attributed to Mining and Pastoral Region MLC Peter Foster:
“This is a win for Carnarvon given the importance of boating, both recreationally and commercially, to the local community.
“This is another example of the Cook Labor Government investing in rural and regional areas to ensure people living in those areas do not miss out on the same facilities and services that metropolitan residents enjoy.”
