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Emergency dredging contract in the works for Swansea Channel: Catley

Swansea Channel will benefit from future drenching work.

Posted on September 14, 2022

Swansea state MP Yasmin Catley has been buoyed by good news on two fronts this week.

The local member met with representatives from the Maritime Infrastructure Delivery Office (MIDO) on Thursday 8 September to not only discuss plans to dredge the channel, but repair Reids Reserve as well.

Despite concerns over the navigability of the waterway being raised many times with NSW Minister for Transport David Elliott, those pleas remain ignored for more than a year.

However, the MIDO advised Ms Catley an emergency dredging contract was almost finalised, with works to be complete prior to Christmas.

“The discussions with MIDO were very constructive,” she said.

“And, in a very positive step for the region, work is underway to establish a 10-year dredging plan.

“That will mean the community can have confidence the Swansea Channel will be navigable… at all times.

“I have been calling for an ongoing dredging maintenance program for years.

“So, I am very pleased with Minister Elliott taking this long-term approach.

“It just makes sense.”

The MIDO also notified Ms Catley that design work to repair the breakwall along Reids Reserve was proceeding.

“Lake Macquarie City Council blocked off the area to the public more than a year ago because of significant coastal erosion,” she explained.

“This followed an inspection conducted by Transport for NSW in 2020 that found that the site was in very poor condition.

“So, it was great to hear from MIDO that the design phase was underway, which will be the first step in repairing the breakwall.

“The assets management team from the Maritime Infrastructure Delivery Office is committed to building a structure that will sustain weather events in the future.

“This is the right approach, but it will take some time to get it 100%.”

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