Grant District Council is still deciding whether to re-grass or redevelop the site at Port MacDonnell where dredged organic material currently sits awaiting removal.
Around 120,000 tonnes of sand and organic material has been dredged from the Port MacDonnell harbour into bio-bags to dry.
Council expects it will take around three weeks to remove the sand and organic material from the foreshore near the boat ramp and place it in a local landfill.
Council’s works manager Adrian Schutz said the organic material said it had been nearly 15 years since the last set of major dredging works had been undertaken in the harbour.
Undertaken by Adelaide-based contractors Maritime Constructions, the project removed deposits of sand from the harbour’s entrance and mooring grounds.
The sand was also deposited along beaches east of the town.
Seaweed was also removed from the harbour’s channel to create a clear path for vessels heading into the harbour to refuel and unload cargo.
During council’s September meeting Mayor Richard Sage moved that council negotiate with DIP to clean up the site and retain the fill for a trial period over the summer of 2022-23 Christmas and New Year period.
He also moved that staff be delegated the power to negotiate an agreement with DIP to leave the site clean for the trial period and for the community to have their say and the funding required to finish off the current contract to return it to a grass surface be retained.
The motion was seconded by Cr Peter Duncan but did not receive majority of support from other councillors, therefore was lost.
Council will consult with Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) and Port MacDonnell residents, following Cr Gillian Clayfield’s supported motion.
Cr Clayfield moved that council consult with DIT and request them to place a hold on removing the base until such time as council staff have presented a further report.
In addition, Cr Clayfield moved that Port MacDonnell residents be consulted before proceeding, to seek their opinion on whether the space at be used for a carpark, or to be re-grassed.
