Work to clear the Wharf St boat ramp and channel of silt has started and the project manager says it will be “more thorough” than last year’s attempt.
The work, managed by the Whanganui Port Operating Company and funded by Whanganui District Council, is a follow-up to clearing work done in December and is expected to take about three weeks.
“The last operation in December was an interim land-based solution as we were waiting for replacement parts for the dredging barge to arrive, so this time around the works will be more thorough, clearing the channel in the port basin, right up to the boat ramp,” Whanganui Port project manager Phil Wardale said.
“Due to the mud and silt build up in the port basin, we will dig a channel to the Te Anau first, and initially side cast the dredged materials. Once we have made a channel we can then unload the dredged silt in the main river channel next to the Te Anau wreck, during outgoing tides.”
Whanganui District Council chief executive David Langford acknowledged the support of iwi and hapū representatives Te Mata Pūau.
