The first phase removal of 44,000 tonnes of silt from Peel Marina is due to start next week, with the project set to take two years.
Starting from Monday, the construction on a draining pool in a field at Ballatessan Farm will begin ahead of the removal of silt beginning in March.
The dredging process will involve using a long-reach excavator on a floating barge, and the material will be transported in purpose-designed trailers to the pool, which will be around 2.5 metres deep and measuring roughly 70m by 100m.
One of the more controversial aspects of the scheme, the silt being removed via lorry will see 2,750 loads of 16 tonnes being taken the 450 metres up river.
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Originally the plan had been for the silt to be removed using a pipeline but Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer MHK confirmed in Tynwald that plan had changed.
The material will be stored in the pool and drained over a number of months before being suitable for transportation.
Plans for the silt’s final destination have also been changed. Originally the plan was for it to be used for land remediation at the former Cross Vein Mine. However, the DoI has now changed its plan so that the silt will be deposited at the Turkeylands Quarry landfill in Malew.
Mr Harmer said: ’Rigorous and painstaking planning has been undertaken around this complex issue and I’m delighted work will start this week to get the project off the ground.
’Dredging will take place in two phases - one this spring and another in spring 2021 - with around 22,000 tonnes being lifted out of the marina each time.
’While this takes place, the department will continue to work with project partners from DEFA and Manx Utilities to develop a long-term solution for the silt which enters the marina each year.’
The work will be done in phases from March to May this year when the DoI intends to remove half of the silt. Around the same time, Colas, as site operator, will be submitting a planning application for the dumping at Turkeylands and the silt will be sent there during the autumn/winter this year.
In spring 2021, the second phase of dredging will take place to remove remaining 22,000 tonnes of silt from Peel Marina. During the autumn and winter 2021/22 the remaining silt will be sent to the landfill site at Turkeylands.
If all goes according to the DoI’s schedule, the draining pool at Ballatessan Farm will be demolished and the field reinstated over the spring and summer 2022.