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Happy Christmas and best wishes to you all for 2020

I would like to thank our Members, staff and volunteers for the fantastic work they have delivered this year. This is my last day in the office before Christmas and I am leaving with a real spring in my step because of the progress we are making on a number of fronts. Last week I went to see the Woven Waters exhibition at the Hostry at Norwich Cathedral. I was really impressed and suggest you try and get to it over the Christmas break.

The availability of moorings and electric charging points for boats is an ongoing concern and I have been really pleased with the progress we are making at a number of sites. Please see below for the latest on Stalham Staithe.

Our office is closed for the Christmas week from Friday evening. We return on 30 December. 
christmas card
Please see this month's Broads Briefing below:
December 2019
Woven Waters

Last Thursday evening I attended the preview of the modern art exhibition Woven Waters in the Hostry. This is part of our Water, Mills and Marshes programme of work funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Over 30 artists submitted proposals for artworks which were to “capture the essence of the landscape and its seasonal changes”.

Six were selected from the proposals to form the basis of an exhibition at the Hostry. The aim of the exhibition is to inspire the public to explore the landscape for themselves and engage in greater depth with this outstanding area of beauty, and the cultural and ecological diversity it holds. I think it absolutely does that and can recommend it to you.

The artists were required to demonstrate a tangible link to specific places within the Water, Mills and Marshes area and that each artist spent time in their selected location(s) over a period of a year, from late summer 2018. The transfer of responsibility for Breydon Water was a big enterprise for the Authority – so do have a look at the mud print by Niki Medlik and listen to the soundscape inspired by Breydon Bridge. I particularly love the two landscapes of the River Waveney at Geldeston by Kate Walker.

Many thanks to all of the artists and Anna (Collingbourne) who project managed it for us and to Caroline Fisher who curated the exhibition. It runs until 19 January.

dog days painting by kate walker
'Dog days' by Kate Walker, one of the works on show during the exhibition
Stalham Staithe

I am absolutely delighted with the progress we have made to upgrade the Staithe at Stalham working in partnership with Stalham Town Council and Norfolk County Council. This has been a long running problem and the source of numerous emails, but like many issues connected to the Broads it has taken time to resolve.

The expensive repairs needed at the Staithe has meant that a phased approached was required with phase one being the re-piling of a damaged and eroded section. Phase two is currently underway with Norfolk County Council creating a footway, installing drainage and creating a shorter section of grass verge. Works are progressing well and as you can see from the photograph, the improvements to this area are significant.

Many thanks to the Town Council and Norfolk County Council – it has been a real pleasure to work with them both on the project. We are looking forward to the end of December when the works are scheduled to have finished.

Refurbishments underway at Stalham Staithe
Well-earned retirements

We have welcomed a number of new faces to the Authority during 2019 although this means we are saying farewell to a number of employees who will be retiring at the end of this year.

Edgar Hoddy retired in the autumn following 17 years of service as a Broads Ranger and volunteer. Edgar was known for his commitment and enthusiasm for the Broads, and at this time of year in particular we will be remembering his talent for playing a very convincing Santa Claus during our Christmas events. We are delighted that he will continue to help us look after the Broads as he has signed up be one of our volunteers.

We are also bidding a fond farewell to Steve Birtles, our Head of Safety Management, as he leaves us in December to enjoy a well-earned retirement. In his 13 years at the Authority Steve has been firmly committed to improving our approach to safety management both on and off the water. In particular he has forged a number of important partnerships with the RNLI, BSS and more to raise awareness of water safety in the Broads.

Finally, we are also saying a (partial) goodbye to Tony Risebrow, one of our Compliance and Implementation Planning Officers, as he retires from his post. Tony spent 24 years as a River Inspector/Ranger, originally working for the Great Yarmouth Port and Haven Commissioners before the Broads Authority was formed. He then moved into his role within the planning team in 2011. We are pleased that Tony will continue to work part time in his role as Hire Boat Licensing Officer as of January next year.

I would like to thank all of our retiring members of staff for their dedication and hard work, and wish them the very best for the future.

Climate change

I promised you a regular update on the Authority’s response to the challenge posed by climate change and following the Authority’s commitment to reducing its CO2 emissions we are making some real progress.

This week electric charging points for vehicles have been installed at our Dockyard in anticipation of changes to our fleet of vans and cars. I have also had a very thought-provoking meeting at the Hethel Innovation Centre regarding electric charging points for boats which I hope will lead to the development of an innovative project in the new year. Keep an eye out for more details.

electric van
Electric van and new charging point
Dredging works

Aside from Hickling, other dredging this winter includes work at Tyler’s Cut, which at the time of writing has been completed. Remaining work over winter 2019/20 includes returning to South Walsham earlier than originally planned, to carry on with dredging from the Fleet Dyke into priority areas within the outer broad. A return was planned in March 2020, but this can now be brought forward by at least two months. Prioritisation of this work is two-fold, in that the dredging is required to meet Waterways Specifications and the setback area where the sediment is being placed is required by BESL/EA for future floodbank work near the mouth of the River Ant.

Tree management

Tree management work at many locations along the River Ant have now been completed this winter. Staff and volunteers are now working on planned tree management at prioritised locations on the Bure as well as some additional prioritised locations on the River Ant. The tree shears are to be used on a number of stretches of the River Yare between Bramerton and Brundall this winter, removing overhanging growth and tree removal. On the River Waveney, contractors are also lined up for two stretches upstream of Beccles.

tree clearance
Tree clearing at Hoveton
Moorings

A tender process has been opened to re-pile a 110-metre length of Acle Bridge 24-hour moorings. This work is scheduled to start early next year with completion due in the spring.

Refurbishment of the capping and waling at Neatishead turning basin and Paddy’s Lane 24-hour mooring will be carried out this winter by contractors. At South Walsham slipway and Irstead Staithe 24-hour mooring, minor repairs to furniture and fittings have been completed.

Furthermore, following tree inspections by staff, the appointment of tree surgery contractors has been arranged for hazard removal at Paddy’s Lane, Horning Marshes and Wayford Bridge moorings, so please be aware if you are in the area.

Vessel refits

Programmed vessel refits this winter include the workboat Didler, the Authority’s mud pump, two ranger launches and the two weed harvesters. In addition, the Plant and Equipment team have been fitting several new engines to vessels. These include a hydraulic engine for the welfare vessel and new diesel engines for the ranger launches Spirit of Breydon and ML Yare.

Breakdown of practical works

I thought you might be interested in the allocation of the Construction and Maintenance Teams’ time on navigation tasks between five main categories. In ranked order of total person days allocated for 2019/20, the categories are dredging, 24-hour mooring maintenance, riverside tree management, reactive repairs & maintenance, and water plant management.

The chart below shows the proportions of these allocations. The time spent on navigation tasks is 70% of the total available time for the Construction and Maintenance teams. The other 30% is divided between 20% for conservation tasks (fen management, lake restoration, invasive species control, etc.) and 10 % for recreational management tasks (public rights of way cutting, visitor site and TIC maintenance, etc.). ‘Other’ in the chart includes maintenance of signs and boards, wreck and obstruction removal, maintenance of ranger billets and replacement of channel markers.

navigation tasks pie chart
Percentage of Construction and Maintenance staff time allocated to navigation tasks in 2019/20
Apprenticeship progress

Eloise, Emily and Becky our three level 2 apprentices have completed all of their planned training as part of their Practical Environmental and Conservation Apprenticeship ran in partnership with Easton & Otley College. All three are now working day-to-day with Operations Technicians on all tasks across the work programme, giving them a wide range of skills and experience.

As always please remember you can contact me directly if you have any questions, I'll try my best to get back to you after the Christmas break. If you know of anyone else who would like to receive my briefings please pass on this link

Best wishes, 

John Packman
Chief Executive






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Banner artwork courtesy of Dave Thompson


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