Sandringham black sludge: Parks Victoria to remove stinky beach ooze
The oozy black goo plaguing Sandringham beach has mired children, dogs and beach strollers, but the despised sludge’s days are finally numbered.
Inner South
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Sandringham’s despised black sludge will soon be cleaned up after fears the stinky beach ooze could have scuttled world sailing events.
Parks Victoria contractors have launched a feasibility study to consider options to deal with the sludge removal.
The cost of the investigation into the sludge, which covers much of the Sandringham Harbour area, is yet to be determined.
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It will take three to four months to complete the study.
The sludge — also known as the black death — has been dreaded by regular users of the Sandringham Harbor precinct for several years.
Small children and dogs often get stuck when the organic ooze is at its worst during low tide.
The Leader led a short but effective campaign to have the sludge removed.
Last month, it was revealed two laser world championship events pencilled in for January 2020 may have been compromised if the sludge wasn’t cleared up.
There were also fears that any disrupted events, which doubled as final Oceania qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, could derail Olympic campaigns.
The sludge crisis led Labor state Southern Metro Region MP Philip Dalidakis to ask Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosiso to “urgently intervene”.
“Not only does the sludge have the potential to disrupt recreational sailors it’s also a blight on the landscape,” he said.
“I can assure the community that a study to remove the sludge is implemented and acted upon so everyone can enjoy the foreshore.”
Sandringham Yacht Club chief executive Richard Hewett, who had been calling for the sludge to be dealt with, welcomed the study as a “pleasing first step”.
“The Sandringham Harbour will be restored to the safe, pristine, world class beach and waterway it is famous for once the sludge is gone,” Mr Hewett said.
“I know all harbour stakeholders are very appreciative of Parks Victoria getting this underway.”
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