Harbour chiefs may go back to dumping silt from Peel marina into the sea.

Thousands of tonnes of silt and stone is brought down into the harbour each year from the River Neb.

It used to be carried out to sea but, since the flapgate was built, it accumulates and obstructs the berths.

Contamination levels in 2017 prevented the silt’s disposal at sea.

The Department of Infrastructure and Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture set up a team tasked with finding the best way forward for dredging the harbour and what to do with the material.

In Tynwald last week, Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer gave an update, in response to a question tabled by Tim Crookall MLC, a former Peel MHK.

Mr Harmer said the project team had recommended splitting the project into two phases.

Firstly, to deal with the short-term issue of material already accumulated on the marina bed - which sees dredging and material taken to a dump site - and also to look at ’the feasibility for long-term solutions to prevent the ongoing accumulation of material that cannot be disposed of to sea’.

The DoI has obtained the assistance of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture, a UK Government agency, to carry out a review.

’There is some possibility that it may conclude that some disposal at sea is justified and that it identifies a site that does not harm Manx or neighbouring fisheries,’ said Mr Harmer.

’If CEFAS validates the current approach as being the best available solution and offering appropriate value for money, the department will return to Treasury and ask for the funding approvals to be given so that the project can progress.’

The dredging scheme would involve removing the sediment, and storing it in a lagoon, before taking it to be disposed of at the former Cross Vein mine workings near South Barrule.

It was hoped this process would also help reduce the volume of material deposited in the future.

Mr Harmer added: ’Following discussions with Treasury colleagues, further work is being undertaken on the environmental impact assessment for Cross Vein mine and on a third party review.

Improvement

’The option of using Cross Vein mine as a location for the disposal of current and stored dredged silt was identified as being favourable to both DoI and DEFA as it not only offers improvement in upland management but should reduce the volumes of silt and heavy metals flowing into Peel marina.’

The whole process would see the creation of a temporary lagoon in Peel and then taking the ’dewatered dredgings’ to Cross Vein. Planning permission was in place for the temporary lagoon, but not yet for disposal at Cross Vein.