Council to update dredging options

Gosford Council has resolved to provide its estuary consultant with recent NSW Maritime hydrographic survey data in order to update its 2007 dredging options.

According to a council report, Cardno Lawson Trelaor will be provided with the recent data in order to consider whether or not the orginal dredging plan, as provided to the Department of Lands, would still be adequate to address navigation concerns at the channel.

The issue was brought up by Cr Peter Freewater as a notice of motion at council's meeting on June 9.

"It is imperative that any future plans to dredge the Brisbane Water Channel be both ecologically sound and economically viable in order to protect and create a safe and working navigation channel for our community and to provide for the necessary environmental marine protection," Cr Freewater said.

"In 2007, Cardno Lawson Treloar were commissioned to develop a Coastal Lake Assessment and Modelling (CLAM) tool to assess sedimentation problems within Brisbane Water and provide comprehensive cost benefit analyses for a host of dredging options, which included the entrance channel.

"The CLAM tool was originally designed to assist decision-making and was developed as a cooperative project between the CSIRO, Australian National University and the Department of Environment and Climate Change.

"The Brisbane Water Dredging CLAM was completed late in 2007 and found immediate application in the development of a dredging plan to address maintenance of the entrance channel to Brisbane Water.

"The dredging plan was based on state-of-the-art modelling and up to date hydrographic surveys of the channel.

"In 2008 Cardno Lawson Treloar were commissioned to expand the CLAM tool to encompass all of Brisbane Water.

"This new Brisbane Water Dredging CLAM is currently being developed to inform the Brisbane Water Estuary Management Plan.

"It includes the entrance channel to Brisbane Water and Cardno Lawson Treloar require the latest hydrographic survey data to bring the model up to date.

"The CLAM would then be able to address current sedimentation, navigation concerns and dredging options."

Council also resolved to: "Request Cardno Lawson Treloar's suggested methods for best practice dredging of this channel in order to achieve safe public access and environmental protection, if different from advice already provided".

Cardno Lawson Treloar will be requested to provide council with a report on their recommendations and that report will be considered by council as a matter of urgency.

Council agenda NM.12, 9 Jun 2009