The wave generator sunk off the coast at Carrickalinga isn’t going anywhere soon

The broken wave power generator sunk off the Carrickalinga shoreline has frustrated locals for the past six years, but they’ll have to put up with it for at least another six months.

The Oceanlinx wave generator sunk about 1km off Carrickalinga.

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The wave generator sunk off the Carrickalinga coastline - which has just passed the six year milestone sitting on the seabed - will not be removed for another six months at least.

The 2500 tonne Oceanlinx wave generator sunk en route to Port McDonnell in March 2014, and has sat there ever since while the State Government has figured out how to remove it.

Oceanlinx, which owned the generator, collapsed soon after the generator sunk, leaving the State Government to contend with the problem of what to do with it.

The Oceanlinx generator, before it met its watery end.

The Carrickalinga Ratepayers Association has long argued it should be removed entirely, however the government opted for removing the top - about 1/12 - of the structure, and cutting it off about 1m below the surface, with a safety beacon to warn watercraft.

This partial removal option will cost about $1 million, as opposed to $8 million, and was supposed to start early this year.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll said there were problems because the structure did not marry up with the design drawings.

“DPTI’s contractor, McMahon Services, has undertaken detailed dive surveys of the structure, and as a result they have had to develop a different demolition methodology,’’ the Minister said. “This delayed the project by a few weeks, pushing the start time further into autumn (and unfavourable weather conditions).

“Following the restrictions associated with working in a confined environment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was considered preferable to delay the project until late 2020 when the weather conditions are likely to be more favourable and the working restrictions lifted.’’

Ratepayers Association president Kim Baker said they had written to the Premier and two ministers about the matter, and were still unhappy.

“It is disappointing the government has taken over 6 years now to arrive at the inane decision not to remove the remaining 2500 tonnes of environmental waste from Carrickalinga Bay,’’ Mr Baker said.

“It is not even a job half done. It is a dangerous marine hazard for navigators and will be a permanent blight in these pristine waters.”

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Originally published as The wave generator sunk off the coast at Carrickalinga isn’t going anywhere soon