The New South Wales Government will operate new permanent sand bypass equipment at the Swansea Channel to keep the waterway safe and navigable.
This follows the Federal Government announcing that it will provide a $10 million grant to the Lake Macquarie City Council over the next two years to fund the construction of new dredging infrastructure, including a dredge, permanent pipes, and sand transfer infrastructure.
Once the dredge and sand bypass infrastructure is built, the New South Wales Government has committed an additional $6 million to allow NSW Maritime to operate and maintain the equipment, moving sand from the waterway to nourish nearby beaches.
New South Wales Minister for Transport, Jo Haylen, said the investment will improve navigation safety for all users of the Swansea Channel.
“A reliable access route is crucial for local businesses and tourists, so we can ensure Lake Macquarie remains a premier destination for water-based activities.
“This dredging initiative has been designed with careful consideration of the surrounding natural ecosystems, ensuring that we protect the beauty of Australia’s largest saltwater lake for generations to come.”
It follows a successful two-stage dredging process funded by the State Government, which has restored vessel access to Lake Macquarie. This has supported the recreational boating community and served as a gateway to the region’s famous lakes, rivers, and beaches.
Minister for the Hunter, Yasmin Catley, said, “Lake Macquarie is one of the top tourist destinations in New South Wales. By improving access to our wonderful waterways, we are ensuring that locals and visitors can fully enjoy the first-class recreational opportunities our region has to offer.”
During the first stage of dredging, 16,690m3 of sand were removed from three areas to create a 30m-wide channel extending from the Dog Leg southeast of Elizabeth Island to the Drop Over northwest of the Swan Bay entrance.
The second and final stage of the operation successfully removed an additional 13,000m3 of sediment from crucial points.
This initiative is in addition to the government’s new Boating Infrastructure and Dredging Scheme (BIDS), which will include funding for a statewide program of proactive dredging in priority locations.
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