24 April 2024

 

THE Pearl Beach Lagoon CZMP Implementation of Sediment Control and Stormwater Management Actions Program is funded by the implementation stream of the 2023-24 Coastal and Estuary Grants Management Program to undertake identified works to protect these important environments.

 

Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch said “The funding received under the implementation stream of the Coastal and Estuary Grants program will be welcomed by the Pearl Beach and wider community.

 

“The Pearl Beach community has been fighting for investment to protect the lagoon for years and I am proud that the NSW Government has been able to deliver this funding to improve coastal management at Pearl Beach Lagoon.

 

“Our coastal systems are home to countless flora and fauna, which thrive in the unique location of Pearl Beach and funding to address issues such as sediment plumes and eroding shorelines is desperately needed.

 

“I hope this funding also motivates local community members to also play a role to reduce sedimentation through their daily activities.

 

“Thank you to the Pearl Beach community for their advocacy over many years to address coastal management at Pearl Beach Lagoon.”

 

The project will focus on the on-ground implementation of key management actions from the certified Pearl Beach Lagoon Coastal Management Program. Specifically, this funding will focus on retrofitting stormwater quality improvement measures, including two sediment traps, which will be constructed on the main drain inlets into the lagoon, reducing sediment loads entering the lagoon. In doing so, this project will also investigate options for removing material from the bed of the lagoon.

 

Coastal management funding at Pearl Beach will also result in the removal of sediment plumes from drain outlets, with this material treated and repurposed on-site to rehabilitate eroded shorelines and enable planting of wetland vegetation. This will result in reduced sediment inputs, while removing sediment plumes and rehabilitating and revegetating eroded banks, improving water quality over time and restoring our Pearl Beach coastal system.

 

Pearl Beach community member, Malcolm Davison said “It’s been some 14-15 years since we first started agitating to rehabilitate the lagoon and this is the first step – the silt traps – to stop it getting worse and then gradually giving us the opportunity to improve the water quality with some strategic planting of water-based trees.

 

“It’s a natural lagoon, it’s not man-made, it has been here for generations. It’s a magical place, just listen to the bird life here.”

 

The Central Coast Council project is among 34 coastal management projects funded with a total of $11.3 million.

 

Central Coast Council, Administrator Rik Hart said that Council welcomed the funding to help improve water quality in Pearl Beach lagoon.

 

The NSW Government works in partnership with councils by also providing technical support to local government under the grants program.

 

For more information on the projects, visit the Coastal and Estuary Grants Program.