Broads Authority News.

Record Sum Spent on Dredging
The Broads Authority has spent a record £750,000 on its dredging operations during 2007/08 which has been paid for by £500,000 from tolls and £250,000 from National Park Grant.
The Authority is continuing to work closely with Broadland Environmental Services Ltd (BESL) to identify disposal sites close to dredging operations to keep costs as low as possible.

The following areas have been dredged:
River Ant – Ant Mouth to Ludham Bridge. A volume of 6,000 m3 has been tipped on neighbouring banks.
Upton Dyke – 1,500 m3 has been removed from the first 150 metre stretch and deposited on a tip along the River Bure.
Haddiscoe Cut – 2000 m3 was dredged from the middle stretch during the summer and deposited on a tip at Five Mile Bends on the River Yare. 2000 m3 was due to be removed at the St Olaves end of the cut this winter and taken to a tip on the River Waveney.
River Yare – 3000 m3 of silt has been removed between Five and Seven Mile Bends and tipped at Five Mile Bends.
Oulton Broad – The bar at the broad entrance is due to be removed, and 3000 m3 of silt taken to the tip on Jenson's Island. The bar is dredged every 3 years.

New Look Fleet Dyke
South Walsham Fleet Dyke has been completely dredged over the last two years and trees and scrub on the south bank cleared, making it easier for sailors to negotiate.
A total of 20,000 m3 of silt has been removed and deposited on neighbouring banks, used to infill a low area in front of St Benet's.
Abbey and transported by a wherry to a tip at Thurne Mouth.
The trees and scrub have been cleared with the help of volunteers from the Broads Society's group Broadsword and Broads Authority staff. Meanwhile the Environment Agency has repiled moorings at the lower end of the dyke, fitted mooring posts and built ten new angling platforms.

Boat Safety Scheme
The Boat Safety Scheme was introduced in the Broads last year via specific byelaws, and most of the large boats have passed their examinations.
The scheme, introduced on 1 April 2007 applied to hire craft over 30 ml, private motor craft over 21 m2 and motorised sailing craft over 21 M2 with engines over 10 hp in the first year.
From 1 April 2008 all remaining hire craft and private motor craft of 11 m 2 and above will need to send in BSS certificates to the Broads Authority in order to navigate the Broads.
From 1 April 2009 the scheme will apply to all remaining private motor and sailing craft. Open boats propelled by outboard engines and not fitted with any appliances are not affected.
The BSS is a four yearly MOT type test for boats with engines, cooking, heating, lighting, refrigerating and other domestic appliances. The test, by specialist examiners, aims to reduce the risk of fire, explosions and pollution.
Around 25 examiners cover the Broads but their fees vary so boat owners are advised to shop around for quotes.
The Boat Safety Scheme Essential Guide is available from the BSS website: www.boatsafetyscheme.com or by post from the Broads Authority or the BSS office for f6.30 plus p+p. Lists of examiners are available from the Broads Authority on 01603 610734, the BSS office on 01923 201278 or www.boatsafetyscheme.com/ search for an examiner.

More Work with New Team
Chief Executive John Packman said: "The Broads Authority has seized this golden opportunity to improve the maintenance of the rivers and broads. Reduced overheads will mean we can dredge for 10 months of the year instead of eight for the same money. We can have two teams of men at times working on two different sites. Toll payers have made it clear they want more maintenance done and this is a one off opportunity to increase the capacity of the dredging operation."

The former May Gurney Dockyard Team of nine men now work for the Broads Authority and are headed up by Jason Parker who ran the dredging operation on the Broads for May Gurney. In the new role of Head of Construction and Facilities Jason, 39, brings commercial expertise and continuity of management to the Authority. He has worked for May Gurney for 10 years in a civil engineering capacity covering dredging, drainage, piling, river works and sea defences.
In addition to dredging, the additional plant and equipment will increase the Authority's capacity for repairing moorings and tree cutting. The dockyard in Thorpe gives the Authority an operational base in the southern rivers and will be invaluable in providing a base for dismantling sunken, abandoned and dangerous vessels and for storage.
When it is not dredging the new workforce will be deployed on other maintenance such as moorings and weedcutting. The Authority has already upgraded its dredging plant by buying a second hand crane from P J Plant at Chelmsford. The crane, an NCKC40 replaces a NCKC34 and was used at Liverpool docks. It has been shotblasted, painted and serviced by Richards Shipyard at Great Yarmouth. The crane it replaces will be used for spare parts.