Have your Say on future dredging projects in
Batemans Bay
Transport for NSW is now seeking your feedback on the Review of Environmental Factors and proposed dredging of the Batemans Bay Bar in response to coastal erosion at Surfside Beach at Myamba Parade.
The dredging proposal will:
- Remove about 30,000 cubic metres of sand each dredging campaign
- Provide a minimum 40-metre-wide channel and -2.9 LAT at the Bar.
- Place the dredge sand in water to use the natural power of waves and currents to nourish nearby beaches.
Mathew Hatcher – Mayor Eurobodalla Shire said “I’m pleased that the New South Wales government has responded to the advocacy work we have been doing to deliver dredging for the Clyde River that considers our unique environment. Boater safety and sand renourishment of Surfside are two important issues so it’s a win-win to do them both.”
Cr Hatcher said “I want to thank Dr Michael Holland MP – Member for Bega and Jenny Aitchison MP for their support and work to deliver on this. Very encouraging to get to meet with them both at NSW Parliament today and I look forward to this all happening in Q3 of this year.”
Transport for NSW says :
Have your say
Transport for NSW has prepared a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) that will give us environmental approval to dredge when needed for the next 10 years in Batemans Bay. This may be every 2-5 years.
Your feedback will inform the project
We have been working with the local council and other agencies during the development of the REF and we would now like your feedback on proposed future dredging operations in Batemans Bay.
The REF describes the key features of a dredging project and assesses the potential environmental and social impacts during construction and operation.
Your feedback will inform the final REF and will be published as part of the submissions report.
The proposed dredging operations
As outlined in the REF, our proposed dredging operations will allow for dredging to occur at the Clyde River entrance bar.
It will allow us to dredge up to 30,000 cubic metres each dredging campaign, aiming to maintain a navigable channel about 40 metres wide and a depth of-2.9 metres at Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT).
We propose to place the dredged sand in-water, in front of Surfside Beach about 600 metres from the shore. Placing dredge sand in-water is a common practice for our dredging projects and allows the waves to move sand naturally and potentially will nourish northern beaches.
Adopting this dredging and sand placement method, a dredging campaign would generally take about four weeks. This is subject to the conditions of the channel at the time of dredging.
We are aiming to complete a dredging campaign this year, as funding is available. We will continue to monitor the area for the next 10 years and dredge when needed, subject to funding availability.
Considerations for sand placement
When determining what to do with dredged sand, there are several factors that need to be considered.
TfNSW have undertaken investigations into a variety of dredging methods, dredging machinery or vessels and sand placement options.
The preferred type of machinery or dredging vessel for this project is a trailer suction split hopper dredge.
This dredging vessel offers the greatest benefits for the project, however it can’t get close enough to the northern beaches to place sand on the shore.
Our investigations, and modelling completed by the University of NSW shows that the preferred in-water sand placement location (see above map) will still provide some beach nourishment benefits.
TfNSW investigated other sand placement options such as rainbowing, which shoots the sand in the air spraying it closer to the beach, and the use of alternative dredging vessels with pipes to pump to the beach.
As outlined in the REF, our proposed sand placement area is the best option given the engineering (shallow water depths and swell conditions), cost constraints and proximity to the Marine Park.
Working with University of NSW
We are fortunate that the University of NSW and its Australian Research Consortium for Coast Management team have been collecting data on sand and water movement in this area for some time.
We have partnered with the team from University of NSW to provide detailed modelling on how sand moves in Batemans Bay. This level of scientific modelling is the first of its kind in our dredging program across NSW.
This modelling shows that the proposed in-water sand placement location is the best option for the project and will provide some beach nourishment benefits to nearby areas.
Have Your Say
Give us your feedback on our dredging proposal.
The REF will be on display at the following locations from Monday 12 May 2025 until Monday 2 June 2025:
- Batemans Bay Library Hanging Rock Place, Batemans Bay
- Eurobodalla Council office Corner Vulcan and Campbell Streets, Moruya NSW 2537.
You can also view and download the full REF from our project website.
Information Sessions
We will be available for you to drop by to chat with the project team at Bay Pavilions 12 Vesper St, Batemans Bay, on the following dates:
- Tuesday 13 May, 3 pm to 6 pm
- Wednesday 14 May, 2 pm to 5 pm. Or attend our online information session:
- Tuesday 27 May, 6 pm to 7 pm.
You will need to register your interest to attend online, so we can send you a meeting link.
Please phone or email us to register your attendance.
Project Infoline 1800 271 100
You can provide feedback until Monday 2 June 2025
