After years of lobbying, the home of one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest rock lobster fleets will be dredged to remove the build-up of sand and seaweed in the harbour. 

Key points:

  • Major dredging work has been confirmed for Port MacDonnell in April
  • The local community has been lobbying for years for the removal of sand and seaweed that has built up
  • Fishers say the one-off dredging is not a long-term solution

The South Australian Department of Infrastructure and Transport has confirmed major dredging works at Port MacDonnell in April.

Professional fisher and charter boat operator Clint Wilson said the announcement was “not without time”.

“Things seemed to be moving along pretty slowly up until now, but I think they [the department] have realised that the condition of the port is pretty dramatic.”

Mr Wilson says the build-up has become “dangerous” in the past 12 months. (ABC South East SA: Becc Chave)

Mr Wilson said the amount of sand and seaweed was making the harbour and channel “dangerous”.

“It’s hard to get in there,” he said.

“Some of the boats that are larger are having trouble turning around, having trouble with sitting on the bottom.

“It’s not functional.”

Fishers want an “ongoing” solution to the sand and seaweed, such as an annual dredge.(ABC South East SA: Bec Whetham)

Mr Wilson said the dredging would provide a short-term solution, but not solve all the problems.

“We probably are looking at having to have some sort of permanent dredge there.

“Having an annual dredge is probably one way of looking at keeping the harbour operational for all vessels, not just for the professional cray fishing vessels, but for amateur [fishers], for yachts, for everything that needs to come and use that harbour.”

Mr Wilson says the harbour needs to be fixed for all boat operators.(Supplied: Clint Wilson)

Long-term solution sought

Independent member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell welcomed the news.

“It is going to be fantastic for our crayfish and professional fishermen down at Port MacDonnell, as well as the recreational boaters who use that harbour,” he said.

Troy Bell says there needs to be dredging every year.(ABC South East SA: Bec Whetham)

But Mr Bell agreed with local fishers that a more permanent solution was necessary.

“We’ve got to accept the fact that this type of maintenance needs to be on an annual basis, or on a schedule that is sufficient,” he said.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport said the work was due to finish in July, weather permitting.

“This work will improve safety and access to the harbour for boat users, and improve productivity for the local fishing industry,” a department spokesperson said.

The dredging work is due to start in April and finish in July.(ABC South East SA: Becc Chave)

“The dredging will remove a significant amount of material from the harbour entrance as well as the mooring grounds. A build-up of seaweed will also be removed from inside the channel.

“The harbour entrance will still be accessible to boat operators during the dredging works, but the ramp will be limited to one lane.”