Maintenance dredging to Mooloolaba Harbour entrance has been scheduled following Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) undertaking a hydrographic survey on 21 February 2024 and issuing a Notice To Mariners on 23 February 2024.
This is their regular process, but as boaties and MSQ know, it’s only accurate at a snapshot in time and still requires care.
In regard to the status of the review of the harbour entrance and possible upgrade to the rock wall, MSQ accepted stakeholder requests to undertake a trial of dredging of the western shoal which appears from time-to-time blocking one of the access routes to the harbour mouth from the bay-side (approximately at right-angles to the wall outside of the entrance). When there is shoaling directly in front of the harbour entrance as well as this route from the bayside, it has been extremely dangerous.
Talking to boaties, the western shoaling hasn’t been as much of an issue lately largely due to weather conditions but as they say this can rapidly change. The external bayside trial appears to have been too short and I believe it must cover appropriate conditions to be fairly assessed. Whether the dredging outside of the harbour entrance – of one of the routes to the harbour entrance – is a trial or part of regular dredging maintenance, it would appear to be common sense that it should continue or at least be assessed over a longer period of time with appropriate conditions.
Thus I am asking MSQ to ensure that they extend the trial and ensure timely and proactive dredging occurs – not just in front and in the harbour entrance – but on the western/bayside when shoaling occurs.
If you want to track “Notices to Mariners” map CLICK HERE
