In 2017 Council engaged Royal Haskoning DHV to produce an updated Canal Management Plan (CMP) which included outlining the current condition of the canals, all maintenance works required, and an updated 10 year maintenance schedule for the canals.
As part of the CMP a hydrographic survey was conducted providing an accurate representation of the canal bed depth and shape. A comparison was made with the original design specifications and found that the current canal bed profile required dredging works. As part of Councils commitment to providing safe and effective assets for the community, dredging works are considered to be the priority maintenance activity as part of the comprehensive maintenance list produced from the 2017 CMP.
The CMP has identified that areas of the canal bed depths have been altered due to sedimentation, tidal movements, boat wash, etc and require cut and fill by dredging practices to provide sufficient depth for safe boat navigation.