Central Coast Council has undertaken maintenance activities in The Entrance Channel today to reduce the risk to public and infrastructure safety.

Council used sand from the shoals within the channel to repair the embankment along Marine Parade as part of its ongoing management of the channel and foreshores at The Entrance.

Central Coast Mayor, Lisa Matthews said the work will improve the safety of the beach area for the broader public and protect nearby infrastructure such as Council’s lifeguard tower.

“During the February flood event, a large amount of erosion occurred on the southern banks of The Entrance Channel,” said Cr Matthews.

“Since then our staff have been working with expert coastal engineers and NSW Government authorities to ensure Council repair for this important work.

“Today, Council staff have moved sand from the shoals within the channel with earth moving equipment, to help mitigate risk to the public and redirect tidal flows away from the eroded areas.

“These works were the first ‘on ground’ activities of the 2020 dredging program partly funded by the NSW State Government under the ‘Rescuing Our Waterways’ funding package.”

Council’s Unit Manager Environmental Management Luke Sulkowski said the work would help preserve the current exchange of water between the estuary and the ocean.

“Since the February 2020 flood event, Council staff have observed significant changes in the movement of sand at The Entrance with the sandspit that separates the ocean from the estuary again beginning to grow in size,” said Mr Sulkowski.

“The Entrance Channel is a dynamic coastal environment and while the widening and narrowing of the channel is a natural process, these works are in part designed to try and sustain the current flow of water through the northern channel for a longer period of time.”

The works undertaken today were completed under guidance and supervision of external expert coastal engineers and form part of a greater program of initiatives that Council is progressing for The Entrance channel in 2020.