SAFE NAVIGATION ACTION GROUP INC.

“Ignorance of history is not a valid, nor credible, scientific position”.
Angus Gordon 2013

S.N.A.G. Mission Statement

Through the development of a strong working relationship with representatives from all levels of government we aim to provide safer navigable waterways in the St Georges Basin, Sussex Inlet, Berrara and Swan Lake areas; to, wherever possible, rectify past damage to these waterways and their shorelines and restore and repatriate them for the benefit of all who wish to use them.

Objectives

Short Term

• To search for as much historical data and knowledge of these areas, e.g. maps, soundings, bathymetric surveys, documented and anecdotal records, as well as tidal records, water flow records etc.
• With the aid of historical research and accumulated historical data we are gradually starting to identify the main causes of the loss of safe and navigable waterways.
• To locate the most dominate areas of concern e.g. where there is loss of water safety, water depth, development of unwanted sand bars, erosion and inappropriate plant growth.
• To continue with the current, approved seismic surveys of the Sussex River in order to begin to locate some of the ballast rock and other foreign materials that may be contributing to the persistent siltation of the river; to determine the best way to clear the obstructions from the river channel and bar.
• By erecting warning signs, the Maratime Service have recognised the dangers associated with crossing the Sussex Bar.  It is our aim to be able to provide a good-weather, safer and less unpredictable crossing on all tides at the Sussex Bar.  This would encourage many more owners of small to medium water craft to visit the area.
• As new evidence comes to light about our waterways we will continue to liaise with government departments as well as the local community and their representatives in order that we may be able to continue to forge a productive path forward.

Long Term

• Comparison of the 1822 soundings of the ocean immediately surrounding the entrance to the Sussex River to current soundings indicate a much shallower ocean area today. This was, no doubt brought about by the depositing of ballast rock prior to entering the river through the latter part of the 19th century. This siltation has probably been compounded by the littoral drift of the sand in Wreck bay as well as the gravitational direction effect. Further seismic surveying of this may also be required.
• Swan Lake is another area of concern.  This lake has changed over time and history indicates that some of these changes were more likely to be a result of human intervention rather than natural.  There remains a lot more historical research to be done here.
• Berrara Creek, once had a coach crossing constructed at its entrance.  Parts of this crossing still exist today and have, from time to time, been exposed in big storms and photographed.  The creek is another area that may require future attention.