State Government Commits To Dredging The Myall River

 BY IAN CROUCH

The state government has responded to calls from the Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest communities to address the silting up of the Myall River.

A hydrographic survey of the river in September 2023 by the Maritime Infrastructure Office confirmed there was a significant sand build up in the navigation channel, threatening the water gateway to Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest.

The government has committed to working with Mid Coast Council to dredge the channel, with the project estimated to cost around $2million dollars.

Subject to relevant approvals, the work is due to start before the middle of the year.

Dredging work on the Myall River is due to start within months Picture: Port Stephens Examiner

Sand Transfer System Could Be Clogging Myall River

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Efforts to repair erosion on Jimmys Beach could be causing silt to build up in the Myall River, say community members.

A multi-million dollar sand transfer system was recently activated to nourish the beach, but it's believed swells are moving sediment back to the river's mouth.

Sediment and sand bars in the river haven't been able to clear up since floods in March.

Myall River Action Group spokesman Gordon Grainger says something needs to be done before the channel ends up completely closed.

"The blockage of the natural, eastern channel has serious health deficiencies," Mr Grainger said. 

"The salinity levels go right down to almost drinking water and it becomes basically lake-like and murky water, and all sorts of unhealthy diseases like blue-green algae and red spot on fish." 

There's also concern the blockage could stop boat travel between Port Stephens and Tea Gardens.

Mr Grainger says the council's next scheduled dredging isn't soon enough and immediate action needs to be taken to sort out the siltation issue.

"Nature itself is trying to rebuild Myall Point," Mr Grainger said. 

"If we can assist that by removing a couple of little sand islands that are in the middle of the entrance, that would help, that would get a lot longer life out of it."

Image credit: http://environment.nsw.gov.au/