‘Sludge free by summer’: Sandringham beach ooze removal project gets $250,000 greenlight
Also known as the “black death”, Sandringham’s despised beach ooze has long trapped kids and dogs, but urgent action was taken after it mired an Olympic sailing qualifier. Here’s the plan to banish black sludge for good.
Inner South
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Sandringham’s “black sludge” will be gone by summer after the state government announced it will spend $250,000 to remove the despised beach ooze.
Known by locals as the “Black Death”, the sludge — an accumulation of organic material including seagrass and seaweeds — has been a problem for several years.
The Leader revealed last July the sludge was a safety issue because it trapped unknowing beach walkers, children and dogs in its deep gooey pits.
In November, there were fears three Oceania Laser World Championships — which double as a major qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics — to be held in January/February 2020 could be scuttled if the ooze wasn’t cleared.
The Parks Victoria clean-up operation — which involves contractors removing the sludge by dredging and disposing it in marine environment to the west of the breakwater — is set to begin in the coming weeks.
A “beachfront grooming project” to “regenerate the vitality of the popular destination” will commence once the sludge is dredged.
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Sandringham Yacht Club chief executive Richard Hewett — a key stakeholder — said removing the sludge was a “great outcome for the community”.
“The Sandringham Harbour as a result of the sludge removal will make going into the water safe and far more pleasant,” he said.
“The entire community of beach goers, dog walkers, swimmers, triathletes, sailors, kayakers and canoers all stand to benefit.”
A Parks Victoria study found the tidal movements around Sandringham Harbour allowed the organic “material” to collect in significant quantities. Although the sludge stinks it was found to be non-toxic.
Southern Metropolitan Labor member Nina Taylor said Sandringham Harbour would be “sludge free” by summer.
“The removal of this sludge represents a significant step to resolving an issue that has been blighting Sandringham Harbour,” she said.
“With this dredging project we anticipate harbour users and visitors will be able to enjoy the harbour to its fullest potential in time for summer.”
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