For those that haven’t already heard, late November we had win for the community with the Transport Department finally listening to what we have been asking for with an expanded dredging trial off Mooloolaba.
Unlike previous programs which involved dredging the entrance to the channel, the trial will involve dredging sand banks to the west of the Mooloolaba harbour rock wall.
Outcomes of the trial will determine if there is an improvement to access and safety. Coast Guard have rightfully been calling for this for some time.
There always needed to be a more aggressive dredging program to take out these sand shoals off the western rock wall in the bay to allow boats another safe channel to access the harbour.
While there is still going to be debate about the best long-term solution to have safe access to Mooloolaba Harbour, this more aggressive dredging program in the bay should be done immediately and may always need to be done to maintain access.
The permanent solution has got to be right to enable safe access to the harbour and be right for the environment. That’s why I could never understand why the Transport Department was so reluctant to use some of the easier more immediate options to improve safety such as opening up this alternative channel by dredging the sand shoals even if it was as an interim option.
This a definite step in the right direction and it was good to hear that the Transport Minister has finally listened.
What I don’t want to see is a flurry of activity and in 12 months time they forget about it. Access to the harbour needs to be continually maintained.
