Dredging to resume in October

WORK to dredge Oamaru Harbour for the first time since 2011 will start early next month, the Waitaki District Council has confirmed.

Heavy machinery to complete the project will arrive in Oamaru between September 27 and October 2 before the first stage of the twostage project begins.

As part of stage one, which will cost an estimated $180,000, a 120m by 40m area of the harbour channel will be dredged to a depth of 3m at low tide, which will involve removing about 7000cu m of material.

The depth at low tide is about 1m.

A 40tonne longreach excavator, 30tonne excavator and 35tonne dump truck will be employed to carry out the work.

Material dredged from the harbour will be used to establish a temporary causeway along the harbour side of the breakwater which will allow repairs and rock armouring on the opposite side of the breakwater to be carried out.

A further 18,000cu m will be dredged to create a 5m channel as part of stage two, which is scheduled to start in March or April at a yettobedetermined cost.

The work is not expected to disrupt to harbour users, or the blue penguins that nest in the area.

Machinery will be based on the beach near the colony next to Holmes Wharf while the work is undertaken.

The first stage is expected to be completed in December.

Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said the work was long overdue.

Discussions were under way between the council and ‘‘boutique’’ cruise ship operators about vessels anchoring off Oamaru, Mr Kircher said.

On February 9 last year, the Jane Marie foundered after attempting to enter Oamaru Harbour, prompting the ORC’s harbourmaster to call for signs at the harbour to warn of the ‘‘inherent dangers’’ of entering and also for formal consideration of the ‘‘restoration of the channel shape, alignment and depth’’ at the harbour entrance.

In February 2012, the Otago Daily Times reported the council used to put aside $100,000 a year for dredging work, but stopped during the 201213 financial year.