UPDATE: Residents of Blacksmiths are urgently calling for the extension of a sand dredging pipeline to combat severe beach erosion that threatens their coastline. The community group Bring Blacksmiths Back is advocating for the pipeline to be extended several kilometers south to replenish Blacksmiths Beach, particularly near Maneela Street and the Swansea-Belmont Surf Life Saving Club.
The permanent sand dredging solution for the Swansea Channel is expected to be operational by midway through 2026, but locals fear this will not be enough to stop the alarming erosion. This concern was amplified last week when a storm exposed significant damage to a viewing platform at Maneela Street, leading the Lake Macquarie City Council to close the platform for public safety and begin dismantling the $350,000 structure.
A council spokesperson confirmed on Friday that the platform will not be rebuilt at its original location due to ongoing erosion issues. They stated, “The council is investigating alternative locations in Blacksmiths that offer safer and more sustainable long-term public use.”
Despite the anticipated dredging project, local surf school owner and Bring Blacksmiths Back member Miles Niddrie highlighted that erosion has worsened dramatically since a $600,000 upgrade to the Blacksmiths breakwater in 2015. “The breakwater extension has significantly diminished the surf break, impacting boardriders for over 60 years,” he explained.
Niddrie pointed out that changes in sand flow dynamics have caused sand to be pushed offshore instead of replenishing the beach. “All the sand that comes out now seems to go right offshore and out to sea; it can’t get around the beach,” he said. He referenced a Google Earth satellite image from 2014, which shows the Maneela Street viewing platform nearly 20 meters from the beach at that time. “This erosion is not a recent issue; it has been ongoing for a decade,” Niddrie asserted.
The Swansea Channel Dredge, funded by a $10 million federal investment and $6 million from the NSW government, will pump sand from the channel and deposit it onto Blacksmiths Beach near the Belmont Golf Course until at least 2031. The council awarded the dredging contract to Birdon, a Port Macquarie-based company, which will operate a 12-meter vessel capable of moving up to 1,000 cubic meters of sand daily.
While the community welcomes the funding, Niddrie emphasized the need for additional resources to extend the pipeline further south, where the sand is critically needed. “Ideally, if you want to get sand in front of Maneela Street and all the way down to the breakwater, you need more outlets and the pipeline to extend down there,” he urged.
However, a spokesperson for the Lake Macquarie City Council indicated that extending the pipeline further south is currently deemed too costly. “The cost of such an extension exceeded available funding,” they stated. The council aims to deliver the new dredge and sand pipeline to the NSW government by 2026, ensuring safe navigation in the Swansea Channel.
The spokesperson also noted that the sand dredging could help mitigate erosion on Nine Mile Beach from Blacksmiths to Redhead. “Sand will be redistributed by waves and currents, moving either north towards Redhead or south towards Blacksmiths depending on ocean conditions,” they explained.
Part of the federal funding is allocated to upgrading the Blacksmiths boat ramp, which began failing in 2023. Temporary repairs were made, allowing operations to continue while a new design is developed for 2024. Niddrie argued that a portion of the $1 million allocated for the ramp would better serve the community if used to extend the dredging pipeline.
“This is a crucial moment for our beach, and we need action now,” he concluded, pressing for immediate community support to advocate for the necessary changes.
As the council prepares for the dredging project, the Blacksmiths community remains vigilant, pushing for sustainable solutions to protect their beloved beach. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
