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Collapse Issue 414 - 06 Mar 2017Issue 414 - 06 Mar 2017
Collapse  NEWS NEWS
Fast ferry service proposal presented to Premier
Centenarians celebrate birthdays
Gosford by-election to be held on April 8
'Beautiful opportunity' for Liesl Tesch
Woy Woy channel 'worse than halftide rocks'
Memorial erected to lone dolphin
Petrol prices skyrocket to 13 cents more than Gosford
Power interrupted with thunderstorms
Association writes to Premier about jetskis
Council to spend $1 million on Peninsula
Vietnam Vets plan to expand its Ettalong office
Film proceeds donated to Mary Mac's
Senator congratulates Tesch as Labor candidate
Labor candidate selection 'undemocratic', says Crouch
Chamber calls for Liberals to select local candidate
Environment network seeks volunteers
Residents' group opposes home park expansion
Talk about kayak journey inspired by Killcare resident
A week of activities for seniors
Community fair at Hardys Bay
President's position not filled
New set down and pick up area
Attorney-General asked about court closure
Chamber welcomes penalty rate cuts
Pedestrian injured in motorcycle accident
Umina man to face court
Council holds developers' forum
Rotary club recognised at Parliament House
New restaurant opens
Business decision pays off
Collapse  FORUM FORUM
Elections must go ahead
Action needed on fuel price fixing
Less opportunity with penalty rate cuts
Rail crossing missing link needs funding
Back to square one
Party heavyweights won't change vote
Don't re-elect Gosford councillors
Traffic blind spots need correction
Collapse  HEALTH HEALTH
Sod turned for hospital redevelopment
Wicks speaks about Peninsula GP shortage
GP 'emergency' a political stunt, says O'Neill
Collapse  ARTS ARTS
Williamson play at Little Theatre
George Mann to perform at folk club
Umina singer cast in opera
Collapse  EDUCATION EDUCATION
School writes to the Council
Kaelan is ACT judo champion
Attention to helmets at Umina
Three students set 10 records
Principal describes school's targets
New sports attire
Push bike donated as prize
Reading Buddies program runs in libraries
Goalball team to be selected
Performing arts groups formed
Softball session at Pretty Beach
School holds swimming carnival
Writers' workshops at lunch time
Collapse  SPORT SPORT
Surf clubs each receive almost $10,000
Umina launches new surf boat
Heat interrupts pairs championship
Ocean Beach returns from carnival
Roosters have first hit-out
Charity bowls attracts 50 players
Ettalong dominates Triples finals

Woy Woy channel 'worse than halftide rocks'

The entrance to the Woy Woy channel between Lions Park, Woy Woy, and Pelican Island, is getting so shallow that it is becoming a hazard for both commercial and recreational craft.

Central Coast Ferries captain Mr Daniel Rond said: "It is getting to the point where the ferry has to cross to the left-hand side or we run aground between half tide and low tide.

"I passed a sail boat one day with a 1.7 metre draft with its keel out that was hard and fast aground and the sailor was scratching his head because he had followed the channel markers," Mr Rond said.

"It is worse than Half Tide rocks," he said, referring to the narrow and shallow channel at the entrance to Brisbane Water from Broken Bay.

"At Woy Woy the mud and sand on the eastern side of Pelican Island has moved across into the middle of the channel.

"I call it the Kendall channel because the only reason it remains navigable is between half and low tide the Lady Kendall, which draws 2.2 metre, drags herself across the mud and is basically being a dredge.

"When the Lady Kendall goes to Brisbane for her annual service the channel becomes very shallow and I would say if she stopped running after about a year we would not be able to use the channel and that would mean the Brisbane Water ferry service would stop.

"It needs to be permanently dredged.

"It is also narrow - the channel at Half Tide Rocks is approximately 10 to 12 metres in width but at Woy Woy it is down to between two and three metres between half and low tide.

"Our ferry has a 5.1 metre beam and if we don't go straight down the guts of the channel, if we deviate two or three metres to the right, the right hand side of our boat will hit the mud.

"The Woy Woy channel is a four knot zone but the RMS doesn't want to acknowledge it is worse than Half Tide Rocks," he said.





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