DREDGING in and around Mordialloc Creek’s entrance will begin this week to clear natural sand build-up, a hazard for recreational and commercial boat operators.
“The works form part of Parks Victoria’s ongoing dredging program to ensure the continuation of safe boating access within Port Phillip and Western Port” Parks Victoria local ports and waterways senior manager Victor Teoh said.
Mr Teoh said the freshly dredged material contains organic material, mostly seaweed which gives the sand a dark colour and odour. Visitors to the beach should not be concerned since the sand is tested on a regular basis.
“While the dredged sand may look and smell mildly unpleasant when it first comes out of the water, after a few days exposure to the air and sun, the sand will bleach to the normal colour and lose the odour.”
Mariners should travel at less than 5 knots during the dredging process in the channel and near the dredge.
The dredger cannot easily manoeuvre during dredging works and all vessel operators should observe marks on the dredge and pass safely on the side showing two black diamonds.
Maintenance dredging at Mordialloc Creek was last carried out in December last year and will run for 3-6 days, depending upon the weather.
See parks.vic.gov.au or call 13 19 63 for more information about the dredging.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 29 March 2017