Grant announced for Pearl Beach lagoon
The NSW Government has announced a grant of $107,750 for coastal works at Pearl Beach Lagoon.
The project will focus on key management actions from the Pearl Beach Lagoon Coastal Management Program, said Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch.
It will include retrofitting stormwater quality improvement measures, including two sediment traps, which will be constructed on the main drain inlets into the lagoon, reducing sediment loads entering the lagoon, she said.
"In doing so, this project will also investigate options for removing material from the bed of the lagoon.
"It will also result in the removal of sediment plumes from drain outlets, with this material treated and repurposed on-site to rehabilitate eroded shorelines and enable planting of wetland vegetation.
"This will result in reduced sediment inputs, while removing sediment plumes and rehabilitating and revegetating eroded banks, improving water quality over time and restoring our Pearl Beach coastal system."
Ms Tesch said the money came from the implementation stream of the 2023-24 Coastal and Estuary Grants Management Program.
"The funding received will be welcomed by the Pearl Beach and wider community.
"The Pearl Beach community has been fighting for investment to protect the lagoon for years.
"Our coastal systems are home to countless flora and fauna, which thrive in the unique location of Pearl Beach and funding to address issues such as sediment plumes and eroding shorelines is desperately needed."
Pearl Beach resident Mr Malcolm Davison said: "It's been some 14-15 years since we first started agitating to rehabilitate the lagoon.
"This is the first step - the silt traps - to stop it getting worse and then gradually giving us the opportunity to improve the water quality with some strategic planting of water-based trees.
"It's a natural lagoon. It's not man-made. It has been here for generations.
"It's a magical place, just listen to the bird life here."
SOURCE:
Media release, 23 Apr 2024
Liesl Tesch, Member for Gosford