Look at future funding - Chamber
The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is calling on Gosford Council to consider looking at long-term funding options to ensure future dredging can be carried out with ease.
"The current works will certainly ensure that the channel is navigable in the short to medium term," chamber president Mr Matthew Wales said.
"However, we would urge the council to look at long term funding options to ensure that monies are available to continue the channel dredging into the future.
"Clearly the dredging needs to be undertaken every five to six years.
"Therefore council should ensure that monies are budgeted into the future so that we don't have a repeat argument with the NSW State Government on shared funding.
"The Palm Beach Ferry link to the northern beaches is vital for our fragile tourist industry on the Peninsula so we cannot afford to have silting of the channel threaten this service or other recreational craft activities.
"It is really important that council enter into constructive dialogue with the State Government to secure future funding."
However, council's director of city services Mr Stephen Glen said council had no plans to fund future dredging works in Brisbane Water.
He said the current dredging works were agreed to on the basis that it was a "one-off" contribution and future dredging works would be the responsibility of the State Government.
Council's former coastal and estuary manager Cr Peter Freewater said the Brisbane Water Management Plan currently being drafted would highlight a number of actions specifically to dredging and investigate funding options to support these actions.
"This Plan will provide guidance on how council should proceed," Cr Freewater said.
"However, council should be seeking to use every opportunity to lobby the State Government to provide all future funding for dredging.
"At present, dredging in Brisbane Water is a shared responsibility between council and the State.
"I have always argued this fact and have been proven correct.
"However, I believe that the State Government should provide all future funds for dredging and council should be working towards such a goal.
"It is an extremely expensive activity and local ratepayers should not be burdened with the cost.
"To realise such a goal may take considerable lobbying and time.
"Time was not a luxury we had in regard to the entrance channel.
"If I was the State Member for Gosford, I would see that all future dredging was funded by the State.
"Brisbane Water is arguably our greatest asset.
"Not just for its natural resource value but as our major tourist destination.
"If it continues to become unnavigable then our economy will continue to suffer."
Press release, 8 Dec 2009
Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
Clare Graham, 9 Dec 2009
Interviewee: Cr Peter Freewater, Gosford Council