Tiered sandbags have been used alongside a 50 metre stretch of the Pipers River to combat erosion.

The project has been conducted through the Pipers River Erosion Taskforce, which was set up in November last year as a sub-group to the Weymouth Progress Association.

Taskforce chairman Daryl Bailey said he expected construction to be completed by the end of next month.

“There has been a bit of a shortfall with some of the materials, but once they have been sourced, then the workers from Treloar Transport will be back to finish the job,” he said.

“The end result will be a site that is visually pleasing and significantly restored to mitigate the effects of events such as the 2016 floods.”

Mr Bailey spearheaded the initial proposal that was created in July last year with help of an environmental engineering consultancy, Topo.

The aim was to make general improvements to the area of the Pipers River beach at Weymouth, in order to make the river more accessible for tourists and residents.

After presenting the project to the Weymouth Progress Association later in the same year, a taskforce of six residents was formed to take idea forward.

The group managed to get the support of not only George Town Council, but also the state government, which provided a $40,000 community grant.

Funds for the project were also made available through an insurance claim.

Mr Bailey said the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service had been instrumental throughout each stage of the works.

“From day one we have maintained a steady dialogue with Parks and Wildlife Service, who along with granting all the necessary approvals, have also picked up the baton with the overall management of the project,” he said.

“The site works, which started earlier this month, have been conducted under the careful scrutiny of the service, as well as a core group of taskforce members and interested residents.”

Once the construction work is complete, Mr Bailey said the taskforce will turn their attention to the revegetation of the river bank.

“We are going to use money from the grant to to value add to the area,” he said.

“Our goal is to make it more user friendly.”

IN OTHER NEWS: