Mid West Ports Authority dredging to keep ‘balance’ at Geraldton

The Mid West Ports Authority will have the Port of Geraldton “dredged” between September and October to keep operations at the port safe and protect the coastal marine environment.

The maintenance will remove accumulated sediments from the Commercial Harbour and Main Shipping Channel to ensure the safe navigability and continued operations of the port.

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A MWPA spokesperson said it was integral to the port’s operations to maintain the balance between the continued development of a sustainable world-class port and protecting the unique marine and coastal environment in which it operated.

“MWPA has undertaken detailed studies and engaged with a range of stakeholders to understand the source of natural sediment accumulation and appropriate placement options at the Port of Geraldton,” they said.

“This schedule has been designed to occur outside of seagrass peak growth periods and seeding season, prior to the migration of ‘the whites’ (rock-lobster) and post-humpback whale migration.”

It is estimated the program will take between four and eight weeks, dependent on shipping schedules and weather conditions.

Approximately 200,000m3 of material will need to be removed from navigable areas, mainly the shipping channel, with the last maintenance dredging conducted in 2012.