The trailing suction hopper dredger Mahury has arrived at Dawlish Warren to begin works on the Beach Management Scheme.
According to Teignbridge District Council, the Mahury arrived on the site and started with the recharge of the beach on Thursday, June 1.
“ Works have started between groyne 6 and 7 and will be working towards groyne 1. During the next few weeks the recharge works will be focused at the amenity end of the beach (Slipway to Groyne 4) ,” reported the council.
The £14 million engineering project – led by the Environment Agency, the contractor BMMJV (BAM Nuttall and Mott MacDonald) and Teignbridge Council – is aimed to reduce the risk of flooding to over 2,900 properties around the River Exe. The beach management scheme comes as a part of the Exe Estuary Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy.
The scheme is designed to reduce the risk of erosion to the narrow section of the spit (the Neck) and includes dredging works to replenish the beach, the repair and replacement of timber groynes and the installation of a geotube hard defense within the dune system.
Work on the beach project is due to be completed by mid-July.