Chamber welcomes move for future dredging

Peninsula Chamber of Commerce president Mr Matthew Wales has welcomed moves to negotiate recurrent funding to dredge the Ettalong Channel.

"The Peninsula Chamber has been highly supportive of the dredging issue and especially in regard to a cooperative approach with the NSW State Government," Mr Wales said.

"The business community welcomed the Council's recent decision to match the NSW State Government offer of $250,000 towards the maintenance dredging but always believed that an ongoing program should be implemented so that we don't have the same argument in another five or six years.

"Council's decision to seek support from the Local Government Association to negotiate a clear policy as to who is responsible for maintaining channels is a good move.

"This issue has clearly divided the council and regardless of the reasons, a cooperative approach needs to be worked out so that monies can be allocated into the future to ensure that the Ettalong Channel is kept clear."

Mr Wales said that valuable time had been wasted procrastinating over who should fund the work.

"We need leadership on this issue and the Peninsula Chamber was delighted to see Cr Peter Freewater take on the role as advocate for the dredging," Mr Wales said.

"It was a common sense decision to support the funding."

According to council's director of city services Mr Stephen Glen, NSW Maritime completed a survey of the dredging area adjacent to the southern end of Lobster Beach on August 13.

He said results from the survey were now being looked at by council to assess the volumes of sand needed to be dredged from the area.

Mr Glen said tender documents were also being prepared by council and the dredging process was expected to be completed by Christmas.

Press release, 16 Aug 2009 Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Clare Graham, 20 Aug 2009 Interviewee: Stephen Glen, Gosford Council