Dredging program to cost $2.45 million

Up to $2.45 million will be spent on an expanded program to dredge the channel at the entrance to Brisbane Water.

Central Coast Council welcomed the confirmation of State Government funding from the Rescuing Our Waterways Program to extend the dredging of the Ettalong Channel.

Council applied for funding under the program in June and the NSW Government's announcement on Friday, September 14, confirmed the success of this application for matching funding from the state.

Mayor Cr Jane Smith said Council had responded to community concerns about navigation in the channel by applying for the matching funding and was pleased the application had been processed so quickly.

"Our community wants a solution to the issue of Ettalong Channel and today's announcement will see that happen through collaboration with the State Government," Cr Smith said.

"The devil is in the detail of how best to undertake this dredging exercise in cooperation with the State Government and how we will now use the sand to renourish nearby beaches," she said.

"We are willing to work through a long-term solution for our community.

"As we have said all along, there is currently no funding allocated in this year's budget so savings of $1.225 million will now need to be found in other areas to pay for our share."

The funding is in addition to a $660,000 emergency dredging contract funded by the NSW Government currently underway.

The NSW Government will contribute $1.225 million, through the Rescuing Our Waterways program, towards a new longer-term solution for Ettalong Channel, which will be overseen by Central Coast Council.

This new phase of dredging will see 80,000 cubic metres of sand from the navigation channel removed, with the intention to relocate it to the nearshore areas of Ettalong, Ocean and Umina Beaches.

The project will focus on keeping Ettalong and Box Head Channels open and navigable, and reducing sand from re-entering the waterways.

The emergency dredging involves removal of about 10,000 cubic metres of sand to provide a channel of 30 metres width and 2.5 metres depth.

A further 10,000 cubic metres will be removed to widen the entrance opening in an effort to slow the movement of sand back into the navigational channel.

"This funding commitment provides certainty to our community that the NSW Government, in partnership with Council, will keep local waterways safe and navigable," said Member for Terrigal Mr Adam Crouch.

"This will provide access for recreational and commercial vessels, which is particularly important for locals in Wagstaffe, Killcare and surrounding suburbs," he said.

"It is also essential that Council continue working to establish a long-term maintenance strategy so that we never see a repeat of the past 12 months.

"The NSW Government will continue to provide Rescuing Our Waterways funding to assist Council with this local waterway, which is their responsibility."

The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce welcomed the NSW Government's commitment to dredging of the channel.

"This is excellent news and confirms the ongoing commitment by the NSW Government to implementing a long term solution to the channel dredging," said Chamber president Mr Matthew Wales.

"It is vitally important to local businesses that the dredging works are completed as quickly as possible so that the Palm Beach Ferry Service can recommence operations," Mr Wales said.

"The Chamber has been working closely with the Minister's office for over 12 months so we are particularly pleased with this announcement," he said.

"It's also great to see a better level of cooperation between the NSW Government and Central Coast Council."

"It is in everyone's interest that the long-term solution is implemented not only for local jobs but for tourism."

SOURCE:

Media release, 14 Sep 2018

Ben Sheath, Office of Adam Crouch MP

Media release, 14 Sep 2018

Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

Media release, 14 Sep 2018

Jane Smith, Central Coast Council