Council calls for State dredging

Gosford Council has called for dredging of the entrance to Brisbane Water to be urgently undertaken by the State Government.

A council report stated that the entrance channel to Brisbane Water "is reported to have narrowed and become shallower as a result of sand movement from the sand shoal off Ettalong Point".

Community members, NSW Maritime and transport operators have provided feedback to Council in relation to the safety and accessibility of the channel, according to the report.

Koolewong Point Clare Tascott Progress Association vice president Mr Garry Slack said the entrance to Brisbane Water posed a major threat to public safety.

"There have been several incidents reported of public ferries and private boats being grounded due to the shallow channel," Mr Slack said.

"The public ferry is an essential part of our transport system on the Central Coast.

"The future of this service is under threat if nothing is done to dredge the channel entrance."

Mr Slack said death or injury is likely if the State Government and Council continued to ignore the problem.

Gosford Council will write to the NSW Government to request immediate funding for the dredging at the entrance channel.

The Council report stated: "It has been communicated to the Minister for Lands that Council funds are not available to contribute to the proposed dredging.

"The cost implications of an ongoing dredging program are considerable and beyond Council's resources."

The dredging is expected to cost an estimated $500,000 to complete.

Mayor Cr Jim MacFadyen is expected to seek a meeting with Minister for Lands Mr Tony Kelly to express Council's concerns regarding the entrance channel.

The Council report stated that "while the seabed of Broken Bay is owned by the NSW Government, Council has an interest in maintaining a navigable channel into Brisbane Water.

"The Council will request that the NSW Department of Lands advise of the priority ranking of this project against other proposed dredging activities within New South Wales."

Council staff are expected to prepare a report within the next two months on progress of the negotiations between Council and the Department of Lands.

Council agenda SF.10, 4 Mar 2008