The New South Wales Government has announced a tender for dredging of the Swansea Channel in Lake Macquarie.
According to the government, the dredging project will remove up to 100,000 cubic metres of sand from the channel. The project also includes pumping of material via pipes to Blacksmiths Beach and spreading of spoil along Blacksmiths Beach to provide beach nourishment.
Swansea Channel has a history of navigation issues going back to the earliest days of European settlement at Lake Macquarie. So far, over $35 million has been invested in estuary health and waterway user programs (including dredging campaigns) in Lake Macquarie since 2000, including approximately $6.5 million in Swansea Channel.
The purpose of the project is to keep Swansea Channel navigable in the long term. The $2.5 million worth project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2014.
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Dredging Today Staff, July 28, 2014