Port MacDonnell Dredging Project 2022

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Port MacDonnell requires a major dredging campaign to remove significant accumulation of sandy materials at the harbor entrance and mooring grounds as well as seaweed (wrack) removal from the channel. The wrack present in the channel is mostly green, mobile and of a low density, however, can be extracted and separated from the water. Wrack dredged from the channel will be screened, drained, and transported to the adjacent western beach or offsite. Sand dredged from the harbor entrance will be deposited for replenishment of sandy beaches located east of the harbor area.

Dredging will ensure the safe and continuing access for those using the Port MacDonnell Harbor, boat ramp and mooring grounds.

Works will be undertaken between late March 2022 and July 2022 (weather permitting) as this is a quieter period on the water. During this time the Harbor entrance will still be accessible but boats using the boat haven entrance are advised to use caution and follow the 4-knot speed limit that applies and maintain a safe speed within 100m of the dredge and discharge pipelines. The safe speed recommended is 4 knots.

The boat ramp will be limited to one lane through to approximately the end of April 2022. After this time, two lanes are expected to be available until the completion of the works. This will also assist in reducing disruption to the tuna festival in mid-May. Please allow extra time to launch your boat or choose an alternative boat ramp to launch.

To ensure the dredging works are completed as quickly as possible they may be undertaken at any time during the April to July period, however there are strict guidelines for noise levels between 10 pm and 7 am to ensure we minimise the impact on local residents

Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) and Council will provide updates on the works as they progress and we thank you for your patience during this time.


UPDATE: It is expected full access to the harbor will be available early August and the Port MacDonnell community will see completion of remediation works by late September (weather permitting).


Consultation Opportunities

  • To book a call back from the project team / contractor to ask any further questions about the dredging works, please head to the DIT website (www.dit.sa.gov.au/portmacdredging).
  • Submit a question or complete the feedback form below.
  • Visit the Port MacDonnell Community Complex (5/7 Charles St Port MacDonnell) to complete and submit a hard copy feedback form.


Port MacDonnell requires a major dredging campaign to remove significant accumulation of sandy materials at the harbor entrance and mooring grounds as well as seaweed (wrack) removal from the channel. The wrack present in the channel is mostly green, mobile and of a low density, however, can be extracted and separated from the water. Wrack dredged from the channel will be screened, drained, and transported to the adjacent western beach or offsite. Sand dredged from the harbor entrance will be deposited for replenishment of sandy beaches located east of the harbor area.

Dredging will ensure the safe and continuing access for those using the Port MacDonnell Harbor, boat ramp and mooring grounds.

Works will be undertaken between late March 2022 and July 2022 (weather permitting) as this is a quieter period on the water. During this time the Harbor entrance will still be accessible but boats using the boat haven entrance are advised to use caution and follow the 4-knot speed limit that applies and maintain a safe speed within 100m of the dredge and discharge pipelines. The safe speed recommended is 4 knots.

The boat ramp will be limited to one lane through to approximately the end of April 2022. After this time, two lanes are expected to be available until the completion of the works. This will also assist in reducing disruption to the tuna festival in mid-May. Please allow extra time to launch your boat or choose an alternative boat ramp to launch.

To ensure the dredging works are completed as quickly as possible they may be undertaken at any time during the April to July period, however there are strict guidelines for noise levels between 10 pm and 7 am to ensure we minimise the impact on local residents

Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) and Council will provide updates on the works as they progress and we thank you for your patience during this time.


UPDATE: It is expected full access to the harbor will be available early August and the Port MacDonnell community will see completion of remediation works by late September (weather permitting).


Consultation Opportunities

  • To book a call back from the project team / contractor to ask any further questions about the dredging works, please head to the DIT website (www.dit.sa.gov.au/portmacdredging).
  • Submit a question or complete the feedback form below.
  • Visit the Port MacDonnell Community Complex (5/7 Charles St Port MacDonnell) to complete and submit a hard copy feedback form.

Q and A

Do you have a question regarding the dredging project? Check out the FAQ section on this page. 

If your questions was not answered within the FAQ section, please submit your question below. 

A staff member will be actively monitoring the Q and A section to provide a timely response. 

Please note: Some questions and answers will be shared publicly on this page so others in the community can benefit.

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  • Share We own a property opposite where all the dredging waste has been dumped and for the better part of this year have put up with,noise,dust,smell and a very unsightly outlook.We realise that this dredging had to occur and were told that the grassed area in front of our property would be returned to its original state,once the dredging was complete.Now we hear,that there is talk of turning this area into a car park.In seven years we have never seen the adjacent road parks full.In fact there are rarely cars parked there.The boat ramp during competitions is sometimes full,but the rest of the year it’s not.The reason we purchased our property was for the beautiful outlook and the local fauna,that frequents this grassed area.Another carpark,would be an absolute eyesore and so unnecessary.There was never talk of this happening in stage 2 of the foreshore development,so why now?Thank you for your time and consideration on Facebook Share We own a property opposite where all the dredging waste has been dumped and for the better part of this year have put up with,noise,dust,smell and a very unsightly outlook.We realise that this dredging had to occur and were told that the grassed area in front of our property would be returned to its original state,once the dredging was complete.Now we hear,that there is talk of turning this area into a car park.In seven years we have never seen the adjacent road parks full.In fact there are rarely cars parked there.The boat ramp during competitions is sometimes full,but the rest of the year it’s not.The reason we purchased our property was for the beautiful outlook and the local fauna,that frequents this grassed area.Another carpark,would be an absolute eyesore and so unnecessary.There was never talk of this happening in stage 2 of the foreshore development,so why now?Thank you for your time and consideration on Twitter Share We own a property opposite where all the dredging waste has been dumped and for the better part of this year have put up with,noise,dust,smell and a very unsightly outlook.We realise that this dredging had to occur and were told that the grassed area in front of our property would be returned to its original state,once the dredging was complete.Now we hear,that there is talk of turning this area into a car park.In seven years we have never seen the adjacent road parks full.In fact there are rarely cars parked there.The boat ramp during competitions is sometimes full,but the rest of the year it’s not.The reason we purchased our property was for the beautiful outlook and the local fauna,that frequents this grassed area.Another carpark,would be an absolute eyesore and so unnecessary.There was never talk of this happening in stage 2 of the foreshore development,so why now?Thank you for your time and consideration on Linkedin Email We own a property opposite where all the dredging waste has been dumped and for the better part of this year have put up with,noise,dust,smell and a very unsightly outlook.We realise that this dredging had to occur and were told that the grassed area in front of our property would be returned to its original state,once the dredging was complete.Now we hear,that there is talk of turning this area into a car park.In seven years we have never seen the adjacent road parks full.In fact there are rarely cars parked there.The boat ramp during competitions is sometimes full,but the rest of the year it’s not.The reason we purchased our property was for the beautiful outlook and the local fauna,that frequents this grassed area.Another carpark,would be an absolute eyesore and so unnecessary.There was never talk of this happening in stage 2 of the foreshore development,so why now?Thank you for your time and consideration link

    We own a property opposite where all the dredging waste has been dumped and for the better part of this year have put up with,noise,dust,smell and a very unsightly outlook.We realise that this dredging had to occur and were told that the grassed area in front of our property would be returned to its original state,once the dredging was complete.Now we hear,that there is talk of turning this area into a car park.In seven years we have never seen the adjacent road parks full.In fact there are rarely cars parked there.The boat ramp during competitions is sometimes full,but the rest of the year it’s not.The reason we purchased our property was for the beautiful outlook and the local fauna,that frequents this grassed area.Another carpark,would be an absolute eyesore and so unnecessary.There was never talk of this happening in stage 2 of the foreshore development,so why now?Thank you for your time and consideration

    Chrissy asked about 2 years ago

    Good morning Chrissy

    Thank you for your query.

    The proposed carpark at Port MacDonnell you are referring to first arose at Ordinary Council Meeting held on Monday, 19 September 2022. The proposal of a carpark near the dredging site was discussed with the consideration of community consultation being required first. The outcome was to hold any movement until a further report was presented to Council and that residents be consulted prior to proceeding, to seek their opinion on whether the space should be used as a carpark or be re-grassed. The full resolution can be found in the meeting Minutes on Council's website (https://www.dcgrant.sa.gov.au/council/meetings/ordinary).

    A further report was presented at Ordinary Council Meeting held on Monday, 17 October 2022. Multiple options were presented for the space along with many ongoing considerations. The full report and recommendation can be found in the meeting Agenda on Council's website (https://www.dcgrant.sa.gov.au/council/meetings/ordinary). The outcome of the meeting will be detailed in the meeting Minutes when published on Council's website tomorrow (Thursday, 20 October 2022).

    I hope this information is of assistance. 

  • Share We visited Port MacDonnell on Saturday and we aghast at the huge pile of sand on the beach west of the breakwater. It was my understanding that only removed weed would be deposited on this beach. I conducted a bird survey of the area for the dredging company before the work began and I would have reported differently had I known this would occur. We often have Red-capped Plovers nesting on this beach at this time but this will be impossible now. on Facebook Share We visited Port MacDonnell on Saturday and we aghast at the huge pile of sand on the beach west of the breakwater. It was my understanding that only removed weed would be deposited on this beach. I conducted a bird survey of the area for the dredging company before the work began and I would have reported differently had I known this would occur. We often have Red-capped Plovers nesting on this beach at this time but this will be impossible now. on Twitter Share We visited Port MacDonnell on Saturday and we aghast at the huge pile of sand on the beach west of the breakwater. It was my understanding that only removed weed would be deposited on this beach. I conducted a bird survey of the area for the dredging company before the work began and I would have reported differently had I known this would occur. We often have Red-capped Plovers nesting on this beach at this time but this will be impossible now. on Linkedin Email We visited Port MacDonnell on Saturday and we aghast at the huge pile of sand on the beach west of the breakwater. It was my understanding that only removed weed would be deposited on this beach. I conducted a bird survey of the area for the dredging company before the work began and I would have reported differently had I known this would occur. We often have Red-capped Plovers nesting on this beach at this time but this will be impossible now. link

    We visited Port MacDonnell on Saturday and we aghast at the huge pile of sand on the beach west of the breakwater. It was my understanding that only removed weed would be deposited on this beach. I conducted a bird survey of the area for the dredging company before the work began and I would have reported differently had I known this would occur. We often have Red-capped Plovers nesting on this beach at this time but this will be impossible now.

    Jeff Campbell asked about 2 years ago

    Good morning Jeff. 

    Thank you for taking the time to ask your question and express your concerns. 

    The sand on the west side of the Port MacDonnell breakwater is related to the dredging works being carried out at the harbour by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT).  

    The Port MacDonnell Dredging Project was fully carried out by the Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT). I would recommend getting in touch with the DIT to discuss your concerns about the bird life at the habour. Any further concerns regarding the processes and work involved in the project, please contact Clive Blanchard (Asset Maintenance Engineer at DIT) who is the primary contact for this project. 

    Mr Blanchard's contact details are listed on the project page and below. 


    I hope this is of assistance. 

  • Share What is the sand work on the west side of breakwater? on Facebook Share What is the sand work on the west side of breakwater? on Twitter Share What is the sand work on the west side of breakwater? on Linkedin Email What is the sand work on the west side of breakwater? link

    What is the sand work on the west side of breakwater?

    Pauline asked about 2 years ago

    Good morning Pauline.

    Thank you for taking the time to submit your question. 

    The sand on the west side of the Port MacDonnell breakwater is related to the dredging works being carried out at the harbour by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT). 

    If you have any concerns about the works or sand, please contact Clive Blanchard (Asset Maintenance Engineer at DIT) who is the primary contact for the project.

    Mr Blanchard's contact details are listed on the project page and below. 

Page last updated: 25 Jul 2022, 02:04 PM