Improving navigability at Gold Coast Broadwater

Boaties have benefited from a dredging campaign at Jacobs Well, with Hall Contracting having recently finished dredging more than 80,000m3 of material from the Calypso Bay Access Channel and Main Channel (North and South).

Hall General Manager – Dredging, Mark McCurdy, said that the works had improved navigability for recreational and commercial vessels accessing the Moreton Bay Marine Park and Gold Coast Broadwater.

“With sand and other fine material accumulating in the channels as a result of tidal movements, our team was tasked with dredging the shallowest areas to improve accessibility,” Mark said.

“We also focused on eliminating shoaling, which is where surface waves increase in height when entering shallower water, placing boat operators at greater risk of running aground.”

“The currents were consistently strong and increased during periods of heavy rain and flooding on the Gold Coast, so we elected to use one of our more robust cutter suction dredges, Saibai, to carry out the project.” 

The works were carried out on behalf of Gold Coast Waterways Authority and the Department of Transport and Main Roads, with the project delivered on time and within budget.