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DREDGING SET TO BEGIN AT LAKE ILLAWARRA

January 30, 2007

 The long-awaited Lake Illawarra entrance dredging works will begin in mid-February, restoring the amenity of nearby beaches and protecting up to 50 homes from the effects of ocean storms, Minister for the Illawarra David Campbell said today. 

Mr Campbell said as part of the project up to 200,000 cubic metres of sand would be dredged from Lake Illawarra’s entrance channel and used to nourish Warilla Beach.

 “Over the coming weeks the public will see Neumann Contractors moving their equipment and materials to the site in preparation to start work,” Mr Campbell said.

 “The local community has waited a long time for this project to come to fruition and I am pleased to see that the final stage is ready to start.

 “The Iemma Government, together with the two local councils, is committed to this $5.75 million project which includes dredging the lake entrance and constructing the two breakwaters. 

“The first step will be laying the pipeline to discharge dredged sand to the southern end of Warilla Beach and should take around two weeks, then the actual dredging process can begin.   

Wollongong MP Noreen Hay  said along the pipeline route there were seven beach walkways to cross but at each crossing the pipe would be buried so that public access to the beach is not disrupted.

 Labor candidate for Shellharbour Lylea McMahon said the pipe would be laid along the existing southern training wall, submerged under the swimming lagoon area, and then laid across the beach to the eastern end car park off Reddall Parade, along the reserve off Osborne Parade and Little Lake Crescent.   

“Because of the distance between the entrance channel and Warilla Beach a booster pump will be initially installed on the southern training wall and the area fenced off to protect the public during dredge operations,” Ms McMahon said.

 “The dredge will be assembled on a small section of Reddall Reserve adjacent to the Ocean Street boat ramp.  After the dredge is assembled, a large crane will lift the dredge into the waterway.” 

 Ms Hay said this work should take about 2 weeks. During the launching of the dredge, a section of the Ocean Street car park will be closed to the public.                                             …/2

“Dredging will proceed upstream toward Berageree Island and when this section is completed dredging will then proceed downstream toward the mouth,” Ms Hay said.

 “During dredge operations and discharge of sand to the beach, public access will be restricted for safety reasons.”

 Warilla Beach has suffered from the effects of past sand mining and coastal erosion over many decades, with an estimated 800,000 cubic metres of sand having been lost since the 1940s.

 “The resulting sand nourishment of Warilla Beach will not only restore beach amenity but provide an additional buffer to protect nearby houses from the effects of severe ocean storms,” Ms Hay said.

 “Work on the breakwater structures has also recommenced after the Christmas break. 

 “The southern breakwater is complete and about 100m of the northern breakwater remains to be finished.”

 All work should be completed by about August 2007.