Kangaroo Island Connect (KIC) has announced that the dredging plan for the Cape Jervis Port and boat ramp area has been approved and is set to kick off during the next week.
KIC said that the dredging operations will begin on Tuesday, 10th April, (approval has been provided to allow rocks to be moved to perform the required dredging), and all work will be performed in accordance with the approved methodology outlined within the EPA dredging licence.
The District Council of Yankalilla said in its announcement that “after an extensive assessment process involving council, the Dept. Planning, Transport & Infrastructure, the EPA and the Coast Protection Board, Kangaroo Island Connect (KIC) has received all necessarily approvals to dredge the Cape Jervis Port in preparation for commencing their new passenger ferry service to Kangaroo Island. ”
A long reach excavator will be used to deepen the port between the public boat ramp and the nearby breakwater, with the spoil to be located on government owned land, north of the port area.
A Dredging Management Plan and Environmental Management Plan for this work has been prepared and approved to ensure that the environment is taken into account, including water turbidity and disturbance is considerably reduced.
The approved dredging work will increase the water depth at low tide to around 1.5 to 1.7 meters deep within the basin between the boat ramp and the nearby breakwater.
According to the council, this will be beneficial to many boat users and will substantially improve access on the water, to and from the boat ramp by vessels being launched and retrieved, as well as allowing the new ferry to begin passenger pick-ups and drop offs according to their proposed operating schedule.
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