Such impacts could include vegetation clearing and impacts on terrestrial ecology values. SHORE Sediments requiring dredging Small quantities of land may be available at Rock walls may impact on Not required. If some rock was appear to be free of any rock the port in the event that unknown rock sediment transport and encountered, existing handling CONTROL material, which could be used to patches were encountered. Townsville coastal environmental values areas may be available for use construct sea walls. Rock material coastal areas are relatively flat - not a major of area. These include low as storage and loading areas. not contaminated. impediment. density seagrass along the Strand and at Middle Reef. Impacts on soft bottom communities could also be expected, but these could be minimise through appropriate sitting. BEACH The vast majority of sediments are Beaches of the Strand would benefit from Potential smothering of Preference would be to pump NOURISHMENT unsuitable for beach nourishment, periodic beach nourishment and are of high benthic habitats, including sand directly to the beaches. as they have a different sediment recreational value. Also further north, Rowes seagrass and temporary This would limit feasibility to composition to that of local Bay may also benefit from nourishment after impacts on water quality. distances of 5-10 km from the beaches. Only small sections of erosion has occurred. Other beaches in the Generally environmental Port. Sites further afield could dredged material contain high region may benefit from nourishment impacts can be managed be nourished, but would quality sand with low silt and clay following cyclonic weather conditions, but through appropriate controls require truck transport of content (mainly in deep sediment may need transport via road rather than and mitigation strategies. sediments, once they are
Such impacts could include vegetation clearing and impacts on terrestrial ecology values. SHORE CONTROL Sediments requiring dredging appear to be free of any rock material, which could be used to construct sea walls. Rock material not contaminated. Small quantities of land may be available at the port in the event that unknown rock patches were encountered. Townsville coastal areas are relatively flat - not a major impediment. Rock walls may impact on sediment transport and coastal environmental values of area. These include low density seagrass along the Strand and at Middle Reef. Impacts on soft bottom communities could also be expected, but these could be minimise through appropriate sitting. Not required. If some rock was encountered, existing handling areas may be available for use as storage and loading areas. BEACH NOURISHMENT The vast majority of sediments are unsuitable for beach nourishment, as they have a different sediment composition to that of local beaches. Only small sections of dredged material contain high quality sand with low silt and clay content (mainly in deep sediment Beaches of the Strand would benefit from periodic beach nourishment and are of high recreational value. Also further north, Rowes Bay may also benefit from nourishment after erosion has occurred. Other beaches in the region may benefit from nourishment following cyclonic weather conditions, but may need transport via road rather than Potential smothering of benthic habitats, including seagrass and temporary impacts on water quality. Generally environmental impacts can be managed through appropriate controls and mitigation strategies. Preference would be to pump sand directly to the beaches. This would limit feasibility to distances of 5-10 km from the Port. Sites further afield could be nourished, but would require truck transport of sediments, once they are