Another Push for Ettalong Channel Dredging

Adam Crouch MP – Member for Terrigal has just released the following statement after a public meeting in Ettalong Beach, NSW, on applying for ‘Rescuing Our Waterways’ dredging funding.

“The collective voice of our community was loud and clear at tonight’s meeting: Central Coast Council urgently must take action at Ettalong Channel, and apply for State funding for dredging work,” said Adam Crouch MP – Member for Terrigal in its release.

“Tonight’s meeting – convened by Ettalong Diggers Club in response to last week’s suspension of ferry services – demonstrates that the entire Central Coast community expects Council to end the impasse and apply for ‘Rescuing Our Waterways’ dredging funding.”

Since 2011, the NSW Government has consistently co-funded maintenance dredging work through the ‘Rescuing Our Waterways’ program.

Despite this funding being available for the past seven years, the former Gosford City Council and now Central Coast Council have never submitted a compliant application to dredge the Ettalong Channel.

“All thirteen other coastal councils in New South Wales comply with this program, and I call on our local council to do the same. It’s also disappointing that the Member for Gosford and her Labor Council colleagues continue to peddle confusion and misinformation amongst local residents,” he stated.

It has been claimed that State funding is being used to dredge Swansea Channel in the Lake Macquarie Council area.

The difference is at Swansea there is state maritime infrastructure (breakwalls), thereby deeming the waterway as a State responsibility, whereas Ettalong Channel contains no state maritime infrastructure and is therefore a responsibility of local government.

“Instead of focusing on deceptive petitions, I call on the Member for Gosford and her Labor Council colleagues to listen to what the community is demanding,” concluded Crouch.

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