Dredging Projects
Project overview
Dredging is an important management activity necessary to maintain the safety of navigation channels and provide access to maritime infrastructure that are can otherwise be restricted by natural sand shoaling.
The NSW Government is committed to improve and sustain accessibility to key coastal locations, river entrances and local waterways to support economic growth opportunities through improved navigation.
Our Dredging program is supported by the Boating Infrastructure and Dredging Scheme (BIDS) which has allocated $16 million for dredging projects across NSW through to 2027. For more information on BIDS see the Transport for NSW Boating Infrastructure and Dredging Scheme web page.
We deliver dredging projects in NSW that have been outlined in key investment and priority regional locations as outlined in the NSW Coastal Dredging Strategy (PDF, 971.53 KB).
You can find out more about the dredging projects that we are currently delivering on this page.
View larger version of map (PDF, 165.32 KB).
Project information
Background
In the past, the Government handled dredging to support goods transport, which mainly relied on waterways.
As rail and road networks expanded, water transport declined, reducing the need for dredging. The State Government retired its dredging fleet in the 1970s.
Dredging now primarily supports the States registered recreational and commercial vessels by providing access to navigation channels on waterways that would otherwise be inaccessible or unsafe to navigate.
While dredging is not a legislative responsibility, Transport for NSW has a responsibility for the safety of navigation on navigable waters.
Benefits
Waterways are the lifeblood of many regional communities and are the basis for recreation, tourism and commercial fishing and aquaculture. With increasing demand for boating and water-based tourism experiences, dredging can deliver other benefits such as:
- improved navigation and greater commercial, recreational and tourism experiences
- accessibility and increased investment to local waterways, boating infrastructure and facilities
- flood mitigation, and improved public amenity
- improved water flows for healthy estuaries
- use of dredged sand for beach nourishment especially at locations susceptible to coastal erosion
- flow-on benefits for local economies by increasing coastal tourism and commercial opportunities.
Dredging Projects
The BIDS scheme has two sub programs which supports our delivery of dredging projects.
- Priority Dredging Program – We're planning and preparing future dredging projects across NSW. This includes monitoring waterways, investigating needs, and securing approvals for key locations.
- Committed Dredging Projects – Are the current dredging projects that have committed funding allocated to deliver dredging work.
Committed Dredging Projects
The following dredging projects are being delivered under the Committed Dredging Projects program and have had dredging work completed, underway or happening soon:
Batemans Bay
Funding has been allocated to deliver dredging in Batemans Bay for 2025. A10-year Review of Environmental Factors (REF) has been displayed and community feedback is now closed. Next steps are being finalised. For more information go to Batemans Bay Dredging web page.
Coffs Harbour
Dredging: Funding has been allocated to carry out dredging in 2025/2026. We are currently seeking community feedback on the 10-year Review of Environmental Factors (REF). For more information go to Coffs Harbour Dredging.
Sand Management at the Boat Ramp: Funding has been allocated to maintain access to the boat ramp through dredging activities. For more information, please go to Coffs Harbour Dredging and Sand Management.
Ettalong Channel
A dredging campaign at Ettalong was recently completed in mid-June 2025. Planning approvals for a 10-year REF is also underway. For more information go to Ettalong channel dredging web page.
Myall River
Transport for NSW Maritime is funding this dredging project which is being run by the Mid-Coast Council. For more information on this go to Myall River Dredging Project web page.
Swansea Channel
Stage 3 maintenance dredging campaign was completed in July 2025. Planning approvals for a 10-year REF is also underway we will be seeking community feedback soon. For more information on this go to Swansea Channel dredging web page.
Wallis Lakes
Transport for NSW Maritime is funding this dredging project which is being run by the Mid-Coast Council. For further information, view the Great Lakes Region web page.
Priority Dredging Program
At the following priority locations we have started work on securing project approvals.
Bermagui
Bermagui dredging is on our priority list and a 10-year Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is underway. For more information on this project go to Bermagui project web page.
Yamba/Iluka
Clarence River dredging is on our priority list and a 10-year Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is underway.
Evans Head
Evans Head dredging is on our priority list and a 10-year Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is underway.
Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie dredging is on our priority list and a 10-year Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is underway for the Hastings River.
Tweed Heads
Tweed Heads dredging is on our priority list and a 10-year Review of Environmental Factors(REF) is underway for the Tweed River.
Contact us
For further information about this project, please contact:
Phone: 1800 271 100