The push to dredge an area of the Myall River locally knows as The Gut at Tea Gardens is over.
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Following four years of battling State and local governments asking for money to fund the project, dredging is expected to begin late next week.
The State government will provide the $400,000 funding, while MidCoast Council will manage the project.
The eight week project will improve access to moorings in the area – located opposite Tea Gardens Police Station.
Up to 28 cruisers, some measuring more than 40 feet in length, are moored in the area.
The Gut links the ports of Nelson Bay and Tea Gardens. The area was last dredged in 1961.
Myall River Action Group president, Gordon Grainger, said the boats could only leave the site at high tide, and many were high and dry anchored on the river’s sandy bottom.
Potentially this situation was a disaster waiting to happen, Mr Grainger said.
Tea Gardens Gutway was used as a channel for timber droghers during the timber era in the late 1800s when Tea Gardens had a population of about 1500.
- Gordon Grainger
Work to lay pipes to move the sand to the Winda Woppa stockpile began in early August.
Sand will be used for the Jimmys Beach sand transfer system project, which is under construction by MidCoast Council
Approximately 10,000 cubic metres of sand is anticipated to be removed during the project.
“Tea Gardens Gutway was used as a channel for timber droghers during the timber era in the late 1800s when Tea Gardens had a population of about 1500,” Mr Grainger said.
“It became a mooring area when that trade finished up.”
The Myall River Action Group, which began lobbying on the boat owners’ behalf in 2014, acknowledged both MidCoast Council and the Department of Primary Industry Crown Lands.
“Without their help this outcome would not have happened,” Mr Grainger said.
MidCoast Council natural systems manager, Gerard Tuckerman said council was pleased the work was finally happening.
“There has been community concern since 2014,” Mr Tuckerman said.
“This is very welcome.”
Mr Tuckerman said council was asked to manage the project due to its history of successfully delivering multiply dredging projects throughout the Great Lakes and Manning.
