Dredging solution for Swansea Channel one step closer

A permanent dredging solution for Swansea Channel is one step closer, with Lake Macquarie City Council calling for tenders to design and supply a dredge vessel and sand transfer system.

Lake Macquarie Mayor, Adam Shultz, said that the Council compiled a shortlist of potential suppliers after calling for expressions of interest last year.

“This is a project that will have a wide range of benefits for our city,” he said. “It will increase visitation by boat, open up more tourism opportunities around the lake’s shore and will improve safety for skippers navigating Swansea Channel.”

Council will invite several contractors to tender for the design, supply and delivery of a dredge vessel and associated equipment, plus a sand transfer system to pump the sand to Nine Mile Beach.

Under current plans, the dredge will pump sand from problem areas in Swansea Channel like a giant vacuum cleaner, through a pipe that comes to shore east of Naru Point.

From there, the sand transfer will continue overland, dipping underground beneath the Pacific Highway before reaching the coast.

The system will have the capacity to pump at least 1000m³ of sand a day, with typical dredging ‘campaigns’ each expected to remove about 20,000m³ over a four- to six-week period.  Larger campaigns may also be required to remove up to 120,000m³.

The contract is set to be awarded in early 2025 with final designs due around the middle of the year.