‘Just blow up’ the Carrickalinga eyesore

It’s a saga that began five years ago when a massive wave generator sunk off the coast of Carrickalinga. Now locals have had enough — they want the 3000 tonne structure blown up.

Residents David Catherwood, Patsy and Jim Fitzpatrick and Ratepayers Association Prepsident David Salkeld at Carrickalinga Beach near where the sunk generator sits in the water. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

• From the archives: Wave generator sinks off Carrickalinga
• The first tender process didn’t go so well
• Blow it up, say the Carrickalinga locals

Carrickalinga residents are once again imploring the State Government to blow up a wave generator sunk off the cherished beach more than five years ago, months after a second tender process is yet to yield a solution.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll says he expects to be able to reveal a solution to the sunken white elephant within weeks.

But locals says they won’t be happy with anything less than a full removal — by commercial or military destruction if needed — because leaving the massive concrete base of the generator below the surface would be a navigational hazard.

The Oceanlinx wave generator sunk about 1 kilometre off Carrickalinga. Picture: Dylan Coker

The saga began in March 2014, when the Oceanlinx wave generator sunk while being towed from Port Adelaide to Port Macdonnell, where a pilot power generation test was to take place.

Instead the 3000 tonne concrete and steel structure sunk to the ocean floor, with owner Oceanlinx sinking into administration the following month.

The former Labor Government said in 2014 it would assess the cost of removal — which administrator Deloitte had put at $3 million — and set up an exclusion zone around the device.

In the past year two tenders have been called by the State Government to remove the generator, with the first contemplating cutting the top machinery section off and leaving the concrete base on the ocean floor.

That tender did not yield any suitable responses, and a second tender was put out this year, closing in April.

This tender would consider four options:

PARTIAL removal to land and dispose

PARTIAL removal and re-sink adjacent to existing structure

TOTAL removal to land and dispose

RE-FLOAT and re-sink in deeper waters

The wave generator which sunk off the Carrickalinga beach is still there after five years. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

But president of the Carrickalinga Ratepayer’s association Bill Salkeld said only a full removal would suffice, because the concrete base would be a danger to boats if it were left in place.

Mr Salkeld said he hadn’t had any update following the closure of the second tender about what might be in the offing.

“We’re only residents, we’re not experts, but there’s a general consensus among the active members that some sort of controlled, destructive procedure to drop the whole thing to the floor of the ocean would be the best outcome,’’ Mr Salkeld said.

“It’s too big to pick up and take away. You could take the top machinery piece off but then you’re left with a mass of concrete. Most of us believe that leaving the concrete (which sits just below — the low level of the sea surface is dangerous.’’

Previous tender documents show that the concrete structure would sit just 1m below the surface at low tide if the concrete base remained.

Mr Knoll said in a statement that he would be able to shed more light on the proposed solution shortly.

“The State Government is well aware of the matter and has been actively pursuing a solution for locals, seeking tenders in April 2019 considering all manner of disposal options,” said Minister Knoll.

“I expect to be able to confirm a solution in the coming weeks, pending the finalisation of relevant statutory approvals.”

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Originally published as ‘Just blow up’ the Carrickalinga eyesore