Grant awarded for Lake Cathie dredging and beach nourishment

Important dredging and beach nourishment works along the Illaroo Road precinct will be undertaken by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council with a $235,000 grant from the NSW Government.

According to Minister for Local Government, Wendy Tuckerman, the funding would be used for urgent sand nourishment.

“This funding enables Council to extract up to 20,000 cubic metres of sand for beach nourishment along approximately 400 metres of beach fronting the Illaroo Road precinct,” Mrs Tuckerman said.

She also added that previous nourishment at this location has been successful in reducing risks and providing enhanced recreational beach amenity. However, this work has become necessary following erosion events in April and June 2022.

“The sand will provide a buffer against impacts of ongoing recent storm erosion and will significantly reduce the current risk from coastal hazards in the short to medium term,” Mrs Tuckerman commented.

Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams said that the nourishment, sourced from a designated area of lower Cathie Creek, would provide several community benefits.

“This work will provide additional protection to surrounding public infrastructure and private property against coastal erosion, as well as improvement to the recreational amenity of the beach,” Mrs Williams concluded.