More than 6500 square metres at the ‘finish’ of the Lake Wendouree rowing course has been excavated since a trial dredging program on the lake began two weeks ago.

The contractor is working a sixty hour week during the trial, using a dredge with a cutting head specifically designed to work in a clay environment.

The dredging trial is progressing well and production rates so far are proving to be close to those expected by the contractor.

City of Ballarat is currently in discussion with the contractor to investigate whether a third dredge can be deployed to further speed progress, whilst still remaining within the project budget allocation.

The new dredge is bigger than the dredge which originally began to excavate the rowing course. It is a different design and uses different technology and methods for dredging.

When the dredging contract was originally awarded in 2009 Lake Wendouree was virtually dry, leading to the appointment of a contractor who specialised in working in low water levels.

The specifications of the second dredge are better suited to working in the lake now it is at capacity.

Discharge pipes attached to the dredges deposit sediment into the reed beds to form a semi-submerged island to provide increased habitat for native fauna.