Emergency dredging 'a failure to date' - Mehrtens

Emergency dredging of the Ettalong Channel had been a failure to date, according to Cr Richard Mehrtens.

"The most recent community meeting at Ettalong showed just how disappointed the community was that the promise of dredging hasn't come through," he said.

Cr Mehrtens said that Central Coast Council has had "nothing to do with the emergency dredging".

"Councillors haven't received a scope of those works.

"All we were given was a link to a State Government website that said emergency dredging was underway."

Cr Mehrtens said he was initially heartened to see the NSW Government commit $660,000 but expected that commitment to result in the channel being cleared quickly so ferry services and normal navigation could be restored while a longer-term solution was put in place.

"I think that when we moved our motion in May, five months ago now, we were basically under the impression, various sources told us, the emergency dredging could start the next day or next week," Cr Mehrtens said.

"We took that to heart and here we are in September and dredging that was undertaken as an act of good faith by the NSW Government in return for our agreement to apply for 50:50 funding, has not been done," he said.

However, Cr Mehrtens said he was hopeful Central Coast Council staff would find a way to ensure the proposed 80,000 cubic metre dredging program could start before July 2019.

"I spoke to Council's Acting Director of Assets and Infrastructure as recently as two days ago.

"He said he has been in discussions with the Department of Lands but those conversations had not proved fruitful yet.

"The local community is understandably very frustrated.

"They are looking out their windows and walking down their streets seeing a dredge not doing its job, whether or not it is because the dredge is not big enough or because of the weather," Cr Mehrtens said.

"The emergency dredging was supposed to open the channel and at least provide some leeway in terms of time to keep it open while funding was applied for, processed and put in place.

"I am still hoping that when the emergency dredging is complete it will still do that.

"Regarding budgeting for the co-funding, the Director told me he is looking at options in terms of what might be available to bring it forward or look for alternative ways to fund the project before July 2019," he said.

SOURCE:

Interview, 20 Sep 2018

Richard Mehrtens, Central Coast Council

Reporter: Jackie Pearson