After years of campaigning for a permanent solution for dredging Swansea Channel, a new purpose-built dredge has arrived on Lake Macquarie and is preparing to get to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Turkulliko<\/em> is undergoing its final water trials ahead of its first major mission: removing around 83,000 cubic metres of sand from two of the channel\u2019s most persistent problem areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It marks a major milestone in the delivery of a long-term strategy to maintain safe and reliable access to Lake Macquarie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The critical fix is the result of a $10 million investment by the Federal Government through its Priority Community Infrastructure Program, which also includes upgrades to the Blacksmiths boat ramp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Minns Labor Government has contributed an additional $6 million to support the operation of the new system for the next five years, managed through Transport for NSW Maritime, establishing an ongoing dredging capability for Swansea Channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The purpose-built dredger has the ability to remove more than 1,000 cubic metres of sand a day, with material pumped by pipeline to Nine Mile Beach, south of Belmont Golf Club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its first major campaign will focus on the Dog Leg and Drop Over, establishing a navigational channel approximately 60 metres wide and three metres deep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The dredge has been given the Awabakal name Turkulliko<\/em>, meaning \u201cto drag along\u201d or \u201cto draw\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Commissioning is expected to be completed by the end of August, with dredging planned to begin afterwards in September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Minister for the Hunter and Member for Swansea, Yasmin Catley said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a huge win for boaties and the Lake Macquarie community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have fought for years for a permanent solution to Swansea Channel. Now the dredge is here, it\u2019s on the water and it\u2019s about to get to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSwansea Channel is the gateway between our lake and the ocean. Keeping it open and safe matters to boaties, local businesses and our entire visitor economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had dredging campaigns before. What we haven\u2019t had is a dedicated, long-term solution to keep on top of the problem. That\u2019s what changes today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis community campaigned hard for this. I was proud to stand with locals at Swansea Yacht Club and fight for it, and I\u2019m even prouder to see it being delivered.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Minister for Roads and Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAfter years of advocacy, seeing a dredge on Lake Macquarie marks the start of a long-term approach to keeping Swansea Channel open and accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHaving a dedicated dredge gives Transport for NSW the ability to manage sand build-up over the long term, rather than simply responding when navigation becomes difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor the thousands of boats using Swansea Channel each year, this is about creating a safer, deeper and more dependable passage into and out of Lake Macquarie.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After years of campaigning for a permanent solution for dredging Swansea Channel, a new purpose-built dredge has arrived on Lake Macquarie and is preparing to get to work. The Turkulliko is undergoing its final water trials ahead of its first major mission: removing around 83,000 cubic metres of sand from two of the channel\u2019s most persistent problem … Continue reading “Swansea Channel\u2019s permanent fix hits the water”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-newcastle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40410"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40410\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40411,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40410\/revisions\/40411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}