A staple part of Launceston's Seaport precinct is set to move in 2021, with developer Errol Stewart confirming he has written to the City of Launceston council to shift the marina further out.
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"We've made the call that we need to move the marina out," he said.
"We've sent a note to the council and TEMT [Tamar Estuary Management Taskforce] to say that's our thinking."
Mr Stewart attributed the need to move the marina, which was brought to Launceston after the 2000 Sydney Olympics, to the buildup of silt in the area.
"Because the raking program has ceased and there is no dredging program, the marina will silt up, particularly in close," he said.
"I don't want to blame the council - it's not their fault that it is the way it is.
"It's urbanisation, it's business, it's roads - a lot of things bring silt into the river. It's been in the river for as long as it's existed."
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Mr Stewart wrote to council chief executive Michael Stretton to outline his plans.
"The response was that they are aware of it, so now for me it's about how far I move it out," he said.
"I put the marina there, but maybe I should have considered that this could happen.
"We've raked and dredged the marina half a dozen times in the last 20 years because if we didn't we'd have part sitting in mud and part sitting water.
"It's just mother nature doing its thing."
Mr Stewart is working on a plan as to how far out to move the marina.
"It'll depend on how many berths I want to give up," he said.
"There are some different alternatives and we're having a look at what's best, we've almost got that down pat now.
"We just need to firm it up, write to the council again and apply for a permit to move it. Hopefully, once we've moved it, it won't be an issue again irrespective of what happens in the future."
Our River - Exploring the health of the Tamar Estuary:
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- Chamber calls for independent body to oversee river cleanup
- Why the Tamar Action Group want more done to fix the river
- What scientists say about the health of the Tamar River
- Swimming in the Tamar near Launceston may never be safe
- 'We refuse to learn to love Tamar River's mud'
- Tourism operator says time for talk on Tamar is over
- Why this 144-year-old club is worried about their future
Mr Stewart said he was supporting of investigating measures to get the Tamar River cleaner.
"We need a robust look at a good alternative," he said.
"It might be led by council or TEMT, but we can't just leave it and say she'll be right. I don't think we can do that.
"At the end of the day, it's an estuary - when an estuary clogs up you clean it."
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Ebony Abblitt
Ebony Abblitt is a features writer at the Examiner in Launceston, with an interest in pets, politics and people. | ebony.abblitt@examiner.com.au
Ebony Abblitt is a features writer at the Examiner in Launceston, with an interest in pets, politics and people. | ebony.abblitt@examiner.com.au
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