Councillor calls for full funding for dredging

The NSW Government must provide funding to ensure the Brisbane Water channel remains safe, according to Gosford councillor Gabby Bowles.

The Government's argument that Gosford Council should take responsibility for the waterway is not a new one, according to Cr Bowles.

"When the State Government is the sole authority that can raise revenue from the waterways, how can they then tell council they have to go 50-50?" asked Cr Bowles.

"It shouldn't be ratepayers that have to dip in their pockets for the costs when council receives no revenue from the waterways," she said.

Cr Bowles suggested that if the NSW Government was willing to provide some of the revenue derived from fishing licences, boat registrations and other waterway-related levies that it may then be more acceptable to expect Gosford Council to split the bill for dredging and maintaining the channel.

She said perhaps the state government could consider footing the bill for dredging and using some of the sand for its infrastructure projects instead of pursuing sand mining in the region's prime agricultural and water catchment areas.

"In the past Council ended up footing the bill but how is that a sustainable solution when the whole motivator for the [Gosford-Wyong Council] amalgamation is we have to be 'fit for the future'.

"How can we be fit for the future when an asset the State Government makes money off, the waterways, they are asking us to foot the bill for.

"They need to back it up with funding, if they expect us to be responsible," she said.

Interview, 14 Apr 2016

Gabby Bowles, Gosford Council