Black Swan Lake dredging underway

The City of Gold Coast, Queensland, recently announced the start of Black Swan Lake dredging works that will restore the wetland area behind the Gold Coast Turf Club.

According to the city officials, the Gold Coast Turf Club has received all permits necessary to rehabilitate the remaining waterbody and surrounding area near Gold Market Drive, Bundall.

The project, which began in late September, is being managed by the Turf Club with Cardno as engineer and the contractor is Alder Constructions.

Overall the project includes:

• Clearing the existing filled pad to prepare for construction of dredge ponds;
• Importing soil to create dredge pond embankments;
• Dredging of silt from within the waterbody into the dredge ponds. The dredged material will be dried out and treated for the presence of acid sulphate soils. Following the removal of the dredge ponds the treated soil can be used for topsoil before grassing the open area;
• Dredging of the waterbody to maximise water depth of 1.5 metres and improve on water quality;
• Revegetating the surrounding banks of the waterbody with native species;
• Profiling the area for general drainage purposes;
• Post and rail fence installed around the wetland;
• New culvert linking the site with the constructed canal to the west;
• New formal maintenance access track and culvert into the wetland.

City officials expect the project to be completed by the end of 2021, weather permitting.