Summer has well and truly made its presence on the Coast! The sun is shining,the water is glistening and its clear skies ahead, making for perfect weather to spend by the water.

Our region is known for its beautiful beaches and waterways, making it popular with locals and tourists alike as a great place to holiday, relax or spend the day with family and friends.

Whether it’s on the shore or on the water, we are working hard to keep our assets in tip top shape all year round.

We maintain 95 wharves and jetties as well as 48 boat ramps across the Coast, making access to our lakes, lagoons and beaches easier.

Boat ramps
The reopening of the Terrigal boat ramp proved to be a landmark project for 2016, following its $1 million makeover.

The popular recreational facility now has three lanes and complements the ramp at Norah Head - providing a safer and more accessible entry point into the ocean.

The upgrade included re-profiling and resurfacing of the ramp to improve its usability in a variety of conditions, installing access platforms and stairs as well as special markers to better indicate the harbour’s boating only zone.

Upgrading the Terrigal Haven boat ramp would not have been possible without $750,000 from the NSW Government through the NSW Boating Now Program.

Terrigal and Norah Head are the only two boat ramps on the Coast that provide direct access to ocean for boaters and other aquatic enthusiasts.

Earlier in the year, we also upgraded the boat ramp at Lions Park in Gamban Road, Gwandalan to help with the launching of boats. As part of the works, the shorter ramp was removed (the side closest to the jetty) and replaced it to even it up with the other side, providing better access into Lake Macquarie.

More works planned next year Koolewong boat ramp will receive a $1.4 million upgrade to provide a more user friendly facility and accommodate increased usage capacity now and into the future. The upgrade will include the construction of a dual-lane boat ramp, an on ramp pontoon and a sailing pontoon. This upgrade has also been made possible thanks to a $750,000 grant from the NSW Government’s Boating Now program.

Summerland Point Reserve will also be upgraded to improve vehicle circulation and parking, especially for those who use the boat ramp. Works includes upgrading the car park, access road and over flow car park. Parking will be improved and formalised with new pavement and line marking to complement the reserve.
Preparing for Summer
Our staff have worked tirelessly during the winter to prepare our beaches, coastal areas and lakes swimming areas in time for the peak season.

Some of the works include:
• Terrigal Lake entrance dredging and nourishing of Terrigal Beach
• Ettalong Beach clean-up and rock removal
• Formalising the middle Putty Beach car parking area
• Erosion improvements to Vales Point Park Reserve foreshore.

This financial year a contractor is working their way around the Coast to help maintain our jetties and boat ramps.

Works include replacing missing planks, fixing handrails as well as general maintenance.

The popular Long Jetty recently had repair works completed following the storm earlier this year, including replacing missing planks and reestablishing the structure.

These improvements to our vital recreational facilities benefit our community but also attract more visitors to the Coast as well.