Posted on February 18, 2026
Dredging at Tuggerah Lake has resumed after six years, with the last dredging campaign held in 2020.
Central Coast Councillor and Chair of the Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Risk Management Sub-Committee, Rachel Stanton, met with senior Council staff and the contractor on site as the dredge was floated on Tuesday, February 17.
The hydraulic cuttersuction dredge will conduct a three-month dredging program to remove approximately 30,000 cubic metres of sand.
“With more than 40,000 residents around Tuggerah Lake, I know how important this program is and am so pleased to have been able to restart dredging after so many years to help the community,” Cr Stanton said.
“I was so excited about the dredge arriving, I drove to The Entrance to see it arrive at midnight and seeing the dredge being built and floated was a momentous occasion.
“I am so pleased Council is finally able to deliver this program.
“This is the culmination of a lot of hard work and years of community engagement.”
The 2026 dredging program is based on recent bathymetric survey data and will realign and widen the main channel.
This will support flood preparedness and reduce shoaling impacts to the Tuggerah Lakes Estuary.
“Residents can expect to see the dredge moving from the berm toward the sump at The Entrance Bridge,” Cr Stanton said.
“The pumped sand will then be dewatered at Karagi Point and used in the surrounding areas.”
Council Director Environment and Planning, Luke Nicholls said the project is just one component of flood preparedness, which is a joint effort with the community.
“This program is planned to contribute, in part, to the flood preparedness of the Tuggerah Lakes estuary when combined with measures such as establishing pilot channels, berm management and emergency openings as required,” Mr Nicholls said.
“The dredging program also aims to provide sand for beach nourishment, allow Council to improve access to Karagi Spit and Karagi Reserve carpark, and realign and widen the current entrance channel between the berm and The Entrance bridge, to reduce erosion of the northern shoreline.
“While this works program, which includes both the dredging of the channel and berm management activities, will support flood preparedness, Council also encourages the community to take their own steps to prepare their properties for the flood season.
“While no amount of intervention at The Entrance Channel can ever eliminate flooding in the low-lying floodplain areas around the Tuggerah Lakes estuary, Council is committed to delivering on this community priority.”
Cr Stanton said the $1.2M allocation from Council’s 2025/2026 Budget toward dredging Tuggerah Lake was one of the largest investments in Tuggerah Lake’s history, and she has her eye on future programs.
“I am already in discussions within Council about allocating further money toward Tuggerah Lake in Council’s next budget,” she said.
“I am looking at flood mitigation measures, wrack management, navigation and general water health.”
Karagi Reserve car park will be closed for the duration of the dredging program.
