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Kingston District Council is taking action to begin an emergency dredging project southeast of Adelaide to enable the reopening of the Cape Jaffa marina. Council has opted to undertake this project while awaiting advice on the outcome of a grant application and other potential funding support from the South Australian Government.

Council has engaged its dredging contractor to mobilise and commence dredging as soon as possible. The works will enable the marina to reopen for all vessels by the end of November and, if possible, earlier.

An extensive sand management/dredging campaign was undertaken in early 2024 to remove 75,000m3 cubic metres of sand build-up. The campaign was committed to by the current term of Council to get ahead of expected sand accretion rates along the Cape Jaffa coastline.

However, the impact of recent storms has rendered campaign largely redundant, and greater interventions are now required. Council considers the recent storm impact a natural disaster and is seeking funding support to deal with its impact upon the Cape Jaffa marina environment.

Council endorsed the release of its remaining current-year dredging budget of approximately $520,000 to commence the dredging program, noting, however, that the full extent of the works required would far exceed this amount—almost 100,000m3 cubic metres of sand accumulated following the recent storms in early September.

However, Council said it is very concerned that without any significant grant and/or other funding support mechanism from the State Government, the work it is committing to will only provide a temporary solution to the ongoing problem.

The budgeted amount had been set to further mitigate future sand management costs, which has had to now be diverted to this emergency work program.

Council has committed to the works, mindful of the impacts on businesses, tourism and residents leading into the important peak holiday and fishing season.

The reality is that wherever a facility is built that requires boat launching and associated groyne/s and other enabling marina infrastructure, there is an inherited responsibility for ongoing management of natural coastal sand drift, which is a high operational expense.

In recent years, Council has been tackling a legacy issue, which is now recognised as historically insufficient dredging and sand management at Cape Jaffa. This has resulted in shoreline buildup on the western side of the marina, ultimately threatening the marina’s mouth water depth and erosion on the eastern side.

In addition to dredging operations, Council is receiving advice on other activities that may assist in managing the Cape Jaffa marina and coastline, including potential sand pumping via slurry pump and pipe infrastructure as an additional sand management tool.

Council is collaborating with the State Government on the proposed plan for managing this ongoing process. Council has said it hopes to confirm a long-term sustainable and financially cost-effective model for the future beyond the capacity of a small regional Council like Kingston.

The Cape Jaffa marina is now home to and/or a launching place for a commercial fishing fleet and many recreational fishing vessels. It is also home to residents who have built their homes there. It is the closest harbour for ships from the Southern Adelaide/Fleurieu region and is usually the location for launching a State Emergency Services (SES) rescue boat.

It is currently the only boat ramp available within the Kingston Council area, making it impossible for larger recreational vessels to be launched in the district without it.

Image: Nightman1965/stock.adobe.com

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