Long-term solution for dredging of Swansea Channel a 'win-win'

A LONG-TERM solution is in the works to deal with the ever-shifting sands of Swansea Channel. Login or signup to continue reading Lake Macquarie council is in talks with the state and federal governments to put an arrangement in place that would achieve the continued dredging of the channel at no cost to ratepayers. The federal government has put a preliminary grant offer of $10 million on the table to fund a permanent dredging solution for the channel.

At Monday night's council meeting, Labor councillor Adam Shultz said dredging of the channel has been a "bugbear of Lake Macquarie for a long period of time". "If council can pull this off being the glue I think it's a huge feather in the cap for yourself [mayor Kay Fraser], the current councillors, and hopefully future councillors as well," he said. Boaters, including Lake Macquarie Yacht Club commodore Geoff Edham, have called for a long-term commitment to maintain the channel.

Swansea Channel is the marine gateway to Lake Macquarie but due to historic interventions, the breakwater, bridge build and foreshore development there is a continual need to dredge the channel to provide access to the lake. If all goes to plan, the council would use the federal government grant for the design, supply and delivery of a dredge and sand transfer system, as well as replace the Blacksmiths boat ramp. The dredge and sand transfer system would be handed over to the state government to be operated by an arm of Transport for NSW.

Mayor Kay Fr.