A major dredging project will get underway next week in Hawks Nest to remove 120,000 cubic metres of marine sand from the eastern channel of the lower Myall River.

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The Moira Parade boat ramp at Hawks Nest will be closed to the public on Monday 25 May as MidCoast Council’s contractors, Dredging Solutions, use the ramp to mobilise the dredge, pipeline and booster pumps.

The project will continue for 27 weeks with 20,000 cubic metres of sand being used to replenish Jimmys Beach, while the remainder of dredged material will go to the existing stock-pile at Winda Woppa.

Council received a grant from the NSW Government’s Rescuing our Waterways Program, which covers half of the $1.7 million project cost, to support the delivery of the project.

RMS Boating Safety Officers and regular boat users around Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest have identified shallow zones in the eastern channel that are affecting the ability for boat traffic to move through the area safely.

“We dredge this section of the river intermittently, based on feedback from a number of local groups who regularly use that section of our river and this will result in improved navigation, while also having the added bonus of being able to assist with beach erosion,” explained Andrew Staniland, Council’s Coastal Management Coordinator.

“100,000 cubic metres of the dredge spoil will be pumped via a pipeline to Winda Woppa, where it will top up the stock pile that is needed for our Sand Transfer System, and the other 20,000 cubic metres will immediately provide a temporary sand buffer for ongoing beach erosion at Jimmys Beach.”

Boat users are advised to be aware of changed conditions in the area during the works period, including underwater, anchored pipelines and limited thoroughfare in the channel, with RMS approved navigation markers in place.

A second closure of the boat ramp will be required at the end of the dredging for the contractor to demobilise.

Once the beach nourishment operations begin at Jimmys Beach there will be restricted access to parts of the beach to make way for the machinery.

“We will continue to keep the community updated on the progress of this project and there will be signage in place and a clear workzone established.”