Let's start a maritime users group

Dredging of the entry and navigational channel from Little Box Head to Ettalong Beach has been on the front pages of the local papers for several years.

There have been ongoing press releases by local politicians and articles by concerned commercial stakeholders such as ferry operators, charter vessel operators and other users of the Brisbane Water navigation channels.

The Minister for Lands and Forestry, Mr Paul Toole, and the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Ms Melinda Pavey, released the NSW Coastal Dredging Strategy on April 12, 2017, providing for the NSW Government to invest "An additional $8M over four years to improve the accessibility and health of the State's waterways."

Mr Toole said amongst other things that: "The waterways are the lifeblood of many communities" and that the government would "Be working with councils to develop long term dredging plans for local waterways and enable councils to undertake their own dredging works to address the needs of their local communities."

A press release by Member for Terrigal, Mr Adam Couch, stated that: "A dedicated team at Central Coast Council will prepare and implement a plan of management for the Brisbane Water Channel."

Well, I have not seen any recent announcements by the Central Coast Council, or by any councillor or other local member representing our community, other than that the State Member for Gosford, Ms Liesl Tesch had "stormed" the office of the Minister responsible for Crown Lands, Mr Niall Blair, "encouraging the Minister to take responsibility for the dredging because it is a safety issue, but he referred me to the head of the RMS".

It would appear that nobody knows what is going on and who is responsible for the maintenance of the navigation channels.

In another media release dated March 27, the Central Coast Council through the mayor, Cr Jane Smith, maintained that the Council "Has no statutory obligation to dredge the Brisbane Water Entrance Channel (Peninsula News edition 442)."

The Council may not have any statutory responsibilities to dredge the channel, but they have clear responsibilities to the people they represent and who pay the cost of running the council.

Has the Council applied for a share of the $8M offered to local councils 12 months ago; probably not, or Cr Jane Smith would have announced it.

This whole situation is bordering on a farce.

It seems it is not the responsibility of the Council, the RMS, the Departments of Crown Lands, or the Lands and Forestry Department to fix the problem with the navigation channels.

I worked for the Public Works Department of NSW when they were responsible for all waterways in the tidal range of rivers and estuaries.

I was at Clarence Harbour Works a long time ago and was responsible for all dredging operation and hydrographical surveys in the Clarence River and the entrance to the river at Yamba and Iluka.

We had four dredges including an ocean going bottom dump, cutter suction dredge and we also covered the Richmond River and Ballina channel.

There is more to dredging and maintaining navigation channels than just sending a barge out to dig a hole in the sand.

Mr Kevin Woods of Umina Beach (Peninsula News ed.442) explained many of the issues to be addressed and referred to the 1977 Ettalong Beach Erosion Study and Management Programme which was carried out by the Public Works department.

This study, in the absence of up to date reliable survey information, should be the starting point for both short term and long term work to get the channel operating safely and ferry services restored, and for maintaining navigable and safe depths in the channels, and for beach erosion control at Ettalong and Ocean Beaches.

I have used the channel regularly for over 25 years and have observed the problems first hand.

Central Coast Council should have co-ordinated the dredging and associated works when funding was announced last year, but they have failed to do so.

In my opinion, a plan or agenda for dredging and erosion control works is essential to get the show on the road.

The establishment of a Brisbane Water Maritime Users organisation should be a priority for all of us to get stakeholders involved.

There are a large number of commercial operators as well as non-commercial users that should be represented including Chambers of Commerce, marinas, rescue services and of course the RMS and Water Police.

Such a group would have more clout than any individual and should be able to encourage local politicians and local government to be more proactive.

My suggestion is to call a meeting of interested and affected parties and to establish a small Steering Committee of four to eight persons who are capable of understanding the organisation and planning of the various aspects of the work to be carried out.

I would expect the Council to be involved, as should other government departments, and progress should be monitored by the new group, perhaps by also issuing regular news updates.

Funding for dredging appears to be available, but someone has to prepare a submission and apply for the funds, not just on a one-off basis, but also for long term maintenance of the channels and beaches.

I am happy to receive emails from interested parties to the following address: peer@dalland.com.au with subject heading Brisbane Water Channel Works.

Email, 4 May 2018

Peer Dalland, Hardys Bay