Can the new Swansea dredge solve Central Coast issues?

Central Coast Council and the State Government are being urged to “seize a golden opportunity”  to make use of the new $10M dredge being built for Lake Macquarie Council to help save more than 5,000 homes around Tuggerah Lake from flooding.

Federal Member for Shortland Pat Conroy said while the dredge was being constructed for Lake Macquarie Council, it could be available for use up and down the coast in areas such as The Entrance and Ettalong.

“It doesn’t need to be working in Lake Macquarie 52 weeks of the year,” Conroy said in a recent interview with Central Coast ABC.

“We designed this so that the dredge could be made available for other local needs.”

The Federal Government provided the $10M to build the dredge and associated equipment which will be handed over to Lake Macquarie Council once constructed.

The State Government has agreed to provide $6M annually to operate the dredge to keep the Swansea Channel open.

Part of the scheme will also see new permanent pipes transfer the sand to nourish nearby beaches like Blacksmiths Beach.

Conroy said the Central Coast could benefit from a similar arrangement.

“I encourage Central Coast Council to engage with the State Government and state representatives on this issue,” he said.

“The Federal Government has already provided the dredge, so effectively all they’re asking the State Government to do is to pay for the operating costs for a few weeks each year to really improve the situation.

“It’s a golden opportunity and I’d certainly encourage them to seize it.”

Tuggerah Lakes Care, a local group of concerned residents and businesses which represents the interests of more than 10,000 people, has welcomed the proposal.

“Tuggerah Lakes Care and thousands – 5,500 plus – of flood impacted residents welcome collaboration with Lake Macquarie and its new dredge,” a spokesperson said.

A Council spokesperson said the proposed dredge appeared to be for deep water dredging, reducing the risk of the larger boats in the channel getting stuck in sand build-up in the Swansea Channel. 

“At this stage Council does not know enough about the actual style of the dredge or its capabilities, however it may well be suitable for dredging at Ettalong, but that is a State Government issue and any questions on that should be directed to the local state MPs,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said Council had a procedure for managing The Entrance Channel in flood to best mitigate flood risks which worked well in recent heavy rain events.   

“Council believes that recurrent dredging programs at The Entrance Channel are costly and do little to mitigate flood risks,” the spokesperson said.  

“Council agrees that sand won from dredging programs in The Entrance Channel for foreshore nourishment can offer some benefit but will not be sufficient to offset impacts of a single significant coastal erosion event.”

Minister for Central Coast David Harris said he looked forward to exploring future opportunities to use the new dredge.

“I am advised that Swansea Channel in the Lake Macquarie City Council LGA requires more regular dredging to remain navigable,” he said.

“The federal government funding has assisted with providing the infrastructure, dredge and sand transfer that will allow us to dredge more consistently on the Central Coast.

“The NSW Government is developing a 10-year plan of management for dredging on the Central Coast to ensure we have a strategic and aligned approach.”

Member for The Entrance David Mehan said the proposal was an “opportunity that needed to be looked at”.

“If it can reduce the food risks, we do need to explore it further,” he said.

“We need to explore any opportunity that can reduce flood risk, and the dredge could be another string in our bow.”

Lake Macquarie Council released the tender to build the new Swansea dredge on Monday, November 18.

The tender will close on December 18.

 

Denice Barnes