Murray Mouth Dredging Resumes

The Murray Mouth will be closed to boating traffic for up to three weeks as dredging to remove excess sand resumes.

Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources’ Manager Water Resource Operations, Jarrod Eaton said the closure would be effective from today.

“Dredging was interrupted late last week due to a mechanical issue with the dredge. Repairs have been completed and the dredging has resumed,” Mr Eaton said.

He said that as originally proposed in the plan to dredge the area, a second dredge is also being mobilized and will be tested over the weekend.

“The mouth will be closed to boating traffic for about three weeks to enable both dredges to be used simultaneously,” he said. “They will initially operate in the shallow area adjacent to the mouth before working back up Goolwa and Tauwitchere channels.”

According to Mr Eaton, the current dredging plan indicates that operations will have moved away from the mouth by the Easter period, which should allow normal boating activities during the holiday period.

“However, subject to progress and ongoing monitoring of the works, it is possible dredges may be active in the mouth area during this period,” he said.

The Murray Mouth dredging project is set to be completed by the end of June 2015.

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