A permanent dredging solution for the Swansea Channel is on track to be operational by mid-2026, following the award of a $7.4 million tender by Lake Macquarie City Council to provide a dredge and sand transfer system.
Australian-based Birdon Pty Ltd will provide a 12-metre vessel known as a Beaver 30 to undertake the work, with more than 800 similar dredges already in service worldwide.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz said the Beaver 30 was a proven dredging workhorse and could be bought ‘off the shelf’, expediting delivery and improving options for servicing and parts once commissioned.
“This will be a state-of-the-art piece of equipment set to transform access into and out of Lake Macquarie,” he said. “Its periodic deployment to Swansea Channel, by the NSW Government, will help create a reliable and safe passage for thousands of boats and other watercraft each year.”
Birdon Executive General Manager of Environment, Jim Cole, said his company had provided similar dredging solutions to councils and government agencies throughout Australia.
“We also own, operate and maintain multiple Beaver dredges Australia-wide,” he said.
“The Beaver 30 is a highly efficient, low-cost suction dredge that combines powerful single-engine performance with advanced fuel and maintenance savings. Its remote monitoring capabilities mean operators can track performance in real time, ensuring reliability and responsiveness.”
Birdon will also provide and install a sand transfer system to pump dredged sand from the lake overland to the beach at Belmont South.
Mayor Shultz said that the exact route of the sand transfer system would be determined once detailed site investigations were complete.
“We’re excited to see the wheels turning on a solution that will be a significant and long-term benefit for Lake Macquarie,” Shultz said.
Member for Shortland, Pat Conroy, said the Australian Government was proud to have delivered $10 million for the project, which includes an upgrade to Blacksmiths boat ramp, through its Priority Community Infrastructure Program.
“A permanent dredge will unlock boating and water sport activities on our beautiful lake, make our lake safer, create jobs and boost the local economy,” he said. “The Lake Macquarie community has been waiting for a permanent dredging solution for too long. I’m proud to have delivered this permanent dredge through the Albanese Government’s $10 million grant.”
The system will have the capacity to pump at least 1000 m3 of sand a day, with typical dredging ‘campaigns’ each expected to remove about 20,000 m3 over a four- to six-week period. Larger campaigns may also be required to remove up to 120,000 m3.
Council will oversee the delivery of the dredge and installation of the sand transfer system, but will hand it over to the NSW Government’s Transport for NSW to own and operate once operational.
Member for Swansea and Minister for the Hunter, Yasmin Catley, said the project was a major step forward in ensuring ongoing, safe access through Swansea Channel.
“The new dredge and sand transfer system will provide a sustainable, cost-effective solution that benefits both recreational and commercial users of Lake Macquarie,” Catley said.
Testing and commissioning of the new dredge and sand transfer system is scheduled to take place in early 2026, with both operational by the middle of the year.
