The Entrance Channel dredging: NSW Water Minister weighs in on debate
Four businesses have closed as a direct result of flooding. NSW Water Minister Melinda Pavey visited The Entrance today, calling on council to dredge as soon as possible.
Central Coast
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“There’s no point in blaming anyone – just fix it.”
This is the message from The Entrance Chamber of Commerce president Bob Diaz who said the solution is to “simply open The Entrance Channel and keep it open.”
Mr Diaz, from Pro-Dive Central Coast, said the situation at The Entrance was taking away development along with tourists.
“Business owners can only work with what they have got,” he said. “It’s so disheartening to hear customers say they won’t be back next year.”
Water Minister Melinda Pavey visited the seaside town today with Central Coast Parliamentary Secretary Adam Crouch to see first hand the impacts of the flooding.
First stop was The Entrance Boat Shed which has been gutted. by flood waters.
“Four businesses have been forced to close during the busiest and best time of the year,” Mrs Pavey said.
She weighed in on Central Coast Council’s management of the channel and sent a message to council to “stop blaming the State Government”.
The community is angry and frustrated over the issue and calling out council for not dredging the channel in the past 18 months. Many believe the flooding could have been avoided if the channel had been dredged, however council has stated that there is no evidence to suggest that dredging works before the rainfall would have made any difference.
Mrs Pavey said council had a dredging licence in place.
“They had the ability to dredge and ensure that channel was opened in a way to avoid many of the problems we had for this community,” she said.
“Talking to local people, hearing their heartbreaking stories because the water backed up again. Now it’s not rocket science. There is a licence, there is an availability to keep that channel open.”
She acknowledged there were challenges following the drought which had played a part in the silted up channel.
The State Government has committed $600,000 to emergency dredging from the Rescuing Waterways Program. Council will match the money, ensuring a $1.2 million fund for dredging works.
Mr Crouch said there was nothing stopping the council from dredging now and recommended getting a proper dredging company to do the job.
“The $600,000 will be provided immediately and I have personally spoken to council staff to ensure dredging work commences as soon as possible,” he said.
“This project will see around 60,000 cubic metres of sand dredged from The Entrance channel to remove shoals that have built up over the past 18 months, with the dredged sand set to renourish nearby beaches.”
He urged council to listen to the community and take action as soon as possible.
“You ignore the community at your own peril,” he said.