newy.com.au – A purpose-built dredge has arrived on Lake Macquarie ahead of a September campaign to remove about 83,000 cubic metres of sand from two problem areas in Swansea Channel.
The vessel is undergoing final water trials before work begins at the Dog Leg and Drop Over, where authorities plan to establish a navigable channel about 60 metres wide and three metres deep.
Capable of removing more than 1000 cubic metres of sand a day, the dredge will pump material through a pipeline to Nine Mile Beach, south of Belmont Golf Club.
The arrival gives authorities an ongoing alternative to the periodic dredging campaigns previously used to manage sand and silt build-up in the channel. Shifting and shallow sections have made navigation difficult for some boats and contributed to vessels becoming stranded.
The Australian government provided $10 million to Lake Macquarie City Council for the project, including upgrades to the Blacksmiths boat ramp. The NSW government has committed a further $6 million to operate the dredging system for five years.
Transport for NSW will engage a contractor for the first campaign and plans to seek tenders later this year for the vessel’s long-term operation and maintenance.
NSW Maritime says the dredge can also be deployed to other waterways across the state, although Swansea Channel is the top priority in its risk-based assessment and is covered by a 10-year dredging plan.
Swansea MP and Hunter Minister Yasmin Catley said the vessel would allow authorities to keep on top of the recurring build-up.
“We’ve had dredging campaigns before. What we haven’t had is a dedicated, long-term solution to keep on top of the problem. That’s what changes today,” she said.
Lake Macquarie mayor Adam Shultz said safer access would also improve prospects for marine tourism and businesses around the lake.
The dredge has been named Turkulliko, an Awabakal word meaning “to drag along” or “to draw”. Commissioning is expected to be completed by the end of August before dredging starts in September.
