On 13 July 2021, Taylor Martin MLC - Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter announced that Swansea Channel, would be the first of five NSW waterways to benefit from the NSW Government’s $6.2 million dredging program. This funding was announced as stimulus funding.

A year has now passed since this announcement was made and the Swansea community is yet to see dredging commence in Swansea Channel.

The lack of dredging has prevented local and visiting boaties from travelling through the Lake because sections of the Channel, including Swan Bay, continue to silt and reduce the depth of the Channel.

Boaties not being able to access this key waterway has had an impact on the success of local sailing events like the Heaven Can Wait Charity Sailing Regatta.

Such events also hold the potential to drive visitors to the region and boost local business, but this is limited because the NSW Government is yet to rollout their dredging program.

Ms Yasmin Catley MP – Member for Swansea said ‘This time last year the Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Taylor Martin MLC announced that Swansea Channel would be the first NSW waterway to gain from one of the Government’s biggest dredging programs to date’.

‘A year has now passed and the only entry and exit point into the largest salt water lake in the Southern Hemisphere remains un-dredged’.

‘Swansea Channel is in a dire state and local and visiting boaties are unable to travel through the Lake for recreation and boating events, which hinders our region’s economy’.

‘The dredging of Swansea Channel is well and truly overdue. It is time for the Government to deliver this crucial dredging program’.