Shellharbour City Council has received grant funding to investigate the feasibility of navigational dredging works in Burroo Bay, Koona Bay and Horsley Creek in Lake Illawarra.
The feasibility study will investigate how dredging could improve public recreation and stormwater infrastructure in and around the lake.
Dredging was identified as an action in the Lake Illawarra Coastal Management Program (CMP). The CMP aims to provide strategic direction to address threats to Lake Illawarra and achieve ecological sustainability for the lake over the long term.
The NSW State Government has contributed more than $130,000 though the 2023/24 Coastal and Estuary Grants Program. This will be supplemented with a co-contribution of just under $70,000 from Council's Operational Budget. Shellharbour City Council CEO Mike Archer welcomed the funding announcement.
"I'm very pleased to hear the funding application was successful and grateful for the support to be able to continue the implementation of our Lake Illawarra CMP", he said.
"These investigations are an important step in improving recreational opportunities and assets for the benefit of the broader community."
Council will engage a consultant to conduct the feasibility study, which would include environmental and cultural assessments to investigate the overall impacts of any potential dredging works.
Burroo Bay, Koona Bay and Horsley Creek were chosen for the study because they are highly utilised areas of the lake with close proximity to public recreational facilities, assets and infrastructure.
