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TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1985
TWO MORE REFUSE BOOMS TO BE INSTALLED
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MORE BEACH-GOERS CAN ENJOY A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT THIS SUMMER WHEN TWO MORE REFUSE BOOMS WILL BE INSTALLED AT DEEP WATER BAY AND STANLEY MAIN BEACH.
THE URBAN COUNCIL HAS DECIDED TO INSTALL REFUSE BOOMS AT THESE BEACHES AROUND APRIL OR MAY THIS YEAR FOLLOWING THE ENCOURAGING RESULTS OF AN EXPERIMENT AT REPULSE BAY LAST YEAR.
THE PROJECT IS ESTIMATED TO COST $700 000.
A REFUSE BOOM, STRETCHING ABOUT 800 METRES, WAS INSTALLED AT REPULSE BAY LAST JUNE AS A TRIAL TO STOP FLOATING RUBBISH, SUCH AS PLASTIC BAGS AND OTHER REFUSE, FROM ENTERING THE SWIMMING AREA.
THE BOOM COMPRISES A CLOSELY PACKED STRING OF BUOYS BOUNDED BY MESH NETTING THAT IS WEIGHTED DOWN TO ABOUT 1.5 METRES BELOW THE SURFACE.
THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S SENIOR AMENITIES OFFICER (SWIMMING), MR PAUL CHEUNG, SAID THE OUTCOME OF THE TRIAL SHOWED THAT REPULSE BAY WAS MUCH CLEANER WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THE NET.
+ THE BOOM CAN RETAIN FLOATING REFUSE IN A SPECIFIC AREA ON BOTH SIDES OF IT THUS MAKING CLEANSING A LITTLE EASIER, + HE SAID.
+ALSO, SINCE THE BOOM IS LAID WITHIN THE GAZETTED BOUNDARIES OF THE BEACH AND BEYOND THE DEMARCATED SWIMMING AREA, IT CAN PROVIDE A VERY CLEAR AND VISIBLE BARRIER BETWEEN THE BOATING AND SWIMMING AREAS.+
TO
THE BOOM IS LAID IN THE WATERS ALL YEAR ROUND, EXCEPT DURING TYPHOON, AND IS MANUALLY CLEARED OF REFUSE BY BEACH STAFF ONCE OR TWICE A DAY USING A SMALL CATAMARAN. PROTECT THE NET FROM STORM DAMAGE, IT WILL BE WITHDRAWN WHEN TYPHOON SIGNAL NO. 3 IS HOISTED,
MR CHEUNG ADDED THAT ALTHOUGH THE REMOVAL EXERCISE IS TIME CONSUMING, IT DOES PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REMOVE MARINE GROWTH AND REPAIR MINOR DAMAGE BEFORE PUTTING IT BACK IN THE WATER.
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