A proposal to build a canal to divert water flow from the Trevallyn Power Station back to Home Reach would be the best solution to siltation and sewage issues in the Tamar River, two industry experts say.
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Naval architect Mike Seward and spatial scientist Bruce Harris have examined the concept of building such a canal – similar to a proposal floated last week by Tamar estuary researcher Ian Kidd – and say the idea would be a relatively cheap solution to address the health of the river.
The pair estimated the canal would cost as little as $25 million to create, but extras such as a marina or walkways could be added, which could increase the price to about $50 million.
“Returning historical flow volumes of the South Esk to the Yacht Basin is the only way to permanently enable the Tamar River to be amenable and self managing as it once was,” they said.
“Other than the shutdown of the Trevallyn Power Station, such a canal is the only option to physically achieve that outcome.
“The proposed canal would ensure that the flow of the South Esk is restored to maintaining the historical Yacht Basin 'virtual lake' of fresh, clean water in and around the adjacent areas.”
Mr Seward and Mr Harris said silt raking was a “band-aid” solution, but could form part of a program to transition the river.
“The proposed canal is an elegant solution, relatively modest in cost, technically readily achievable, low risk and based on nature doing the essential work,” they said.
The pair said a canal could be built by excavating the existing foreshore flats and possibly adding a piled wall.
Mr Kidd told The Examiner last week that up to 285,000 cubic metres of silt could be removed from the Yacht Basin under his canal proposal.
He said a canal would flush silt and pollutants from the upper Tamar, and that the proposal would not reduce Hydro capacity because water would have already flowed through the Trevallyn Power Station.
