The dredging program of The Entrance Channel is underway.

Central Coast Council’s Director of Assets and Infrastructure, Mike Dowling said the dredging program is carried out to maintain tidal exchange between the ocean and the estuary.

“Council must balance the delicate environment of The Entrance Channel while enhancing navigation of the area, providing sand nourishment of the local beaches and reducing the risk of localised flooding,” Mr Dowling said.

“To do this, Council uses fixed cameras to continuously monitor the sand within the channel and completes sand surveys when required.

“Dredging is undertaken, on average, every two years and the sand removed from the channel is used to combat natural erosion at The Entrance and North Entrance beaches.

“We expect to remove more than 60,000 cubic meters of sand during this dredging program, including a small amount west of the bridge.”

Council has dredged The Entrance Channel when needed since 1993, the last dredging program was undertaken in 2015.

Council recently welcomed $225,000 in funding as part of the NSW Government’s Rescuing Our Waterways program. This funding will be matched by Council.