Gladstone dredging project goes ahead
GLADSTONE Harbour’s dredging project, the largest in Australia’s history, began on May 20, an audience heard yesterday, the Observer reported.
Speaking at the Gladstone Resource Industry Update, Peter O’Sullivan, project manager of environment and approvals for the Western Basin Dredging Project, said the Big Boss dredger had been removing 3500 cubic metres a day since the project began.
Big Boss will be the slowest of several dredgers on the project.
Mr O’Sullivan said about five million cubic metres of material would be dumped offshore. A further 20 million cubic metres would be dumped onshore.
“Our other major goal, apart from meeting our deadlines, is to set new levels in terms of environmental standards for a dredging project of this size,” he said.
Mr O’Sullivan explained a bunt wall was being constructed at Fishermans Landing to contain dredging material dumped onshore and create a land reclamation area.
The wall was 70-80% complete and Abigroup, the contractor constructing the bunt wall, was on track to close it off by July 1. Dredgers will begin dumping material in August.
Mr O’Sullivan said efforts were being made to minimise damage to seagrass pastures in the harbour and dredged material would be dumped in strategic areas to ensure the smallest footprint possible.
Speaking at the Gladstone Resource Industry Update, Peter O’Sullivan, project manager of environment and approvals for the Western Basin Dredging Project, said the Big Boss dredger had been removing 3500 cubic metres a day since the project began.
Big Boss will be the slowest of several dredgers on the project.
Mr O’Sullivan said about five million cubic metres of material would be dumped offshore. A further 20 million cubic metres would be dumped onshore.
“Our other major goal, apart from meeting our deadlines, is to set new levels in terms of environmental standards for a dredging project of this size,” he said.
Mr O’Sullivan explained a bunt wall was being constructed at Fishermans Landing to contain dredging material dumped onshore and create a land reclamation area.
The wall was 70-80% complete and Abigroup, the contractor constructing the bunt wall, was on track to close it off by July 1. Dredgers will begin dumping material in August.
Mr O’Sullivan said efforts were being made to minimise damage to seagrass pastures in the harbour and dredged material would be dumped in strategic areas to ensure the smallest footprint possible.
