Desilting grant received

23 August 2018 - Media release

Campaspe Shire Council has welcomed a $141,200 grant from the Australian Government to support the desilting of the Murray River, adjacent to Echuca’s Heritage Listed Wharf.

Mayor, Cr Adrian Weston said council has just received approval of its funding application to the Protecting National Historic Sites grant program, a fund which supports activities that protect, manage and conserve places on Australia’s National Heritage List.

“The funds will support a long term desilting program in front of the southern end of the wharf allowing paddlesteamers to use the full length of the wharf, which is currently restricted to one paddlesteamer due to the silt build-up,” he said.

The southern end of the wharf, near the wet-dock, has a continuing sedimentation problem, restricting access.

“In 2013 desilting was completed by pumping the silt onto the land, draining the water away and then carting the dewatered silt away.

“Whilst this method was moderately effective, it needs to be repeated, every 4-5 years at a substantial cost,” the Mayor said.

Discussions have been underway with the NSW Environment Protection Authority, NSW Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries) and Murray River Council to investigate and gain approval for a method to clear the sediment on an ongoing basis.

“We need to find an environmentally sensitive solution that meets the requirements of all approving authorities,” Cr Weston said.

Council staff are working with the required regulatory authorities and consultants to facilitate an acceptable long term and repeatable solution. Once completed, the full length of the wharf will be able to be utilised and the PS Adelaide, the oldest wooden hulled paddlesteamer in the world, can again be moored at the southern end of the wharf as a static public display.

When all authority approvals are in place, a design and construct tender will be called for the preferred method of works with the project to be completed by June 2019.