MEMBER for Swansea Yasmin Catley said a Labor state government would provide funding for a permanent dredging solution at Swansea channel.
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She said Labor would invest in a "state-of-the-art dredge to ensure the safe navigability" of the channel, and would go to tender to procure a dredge that would be based at Swansea.
“This is one of the No.1 issues here on Lake Macquarie,” Ms Catley said.
“A dredge based at Swansea will ensure the channel is safe and navigable – not just sometimes, all the time."
Ms Catley and shadow treasurer and shadow minister for infrastructure Ryan Park announced the funding plan today.
Mr Park said one of the first decisions by the Liberal government in 2011 was to cancel the purchase of a dredge.
“We will reverse the Liberal government’s shortsighted decision to cancel the purchase of a dredge,” Mr Park said.
“This is good news for the thousands of boaters that use the lake and the channel, from Swansea, Lake Macquarie and beyond.”
Labor said that the Liberals had spent a small fortune contracting the dredging work, but the channel still posed a danger for boaters.
Labor would fund a position to operate the dredge and transport it to other jobs. The funding would be provided through Crown Lands and Roads and Maritime Services, Mr Park said.
Ms Catley said the Liberal government had "ignored our community" for eight years.
"Unlike the Liberals, Labor has a plan for a permanent dredging solution – a major win for boaters, tourism, and the environment,” Ms Catley said.