UPDATE: Residents of Blacksmiths are urgently calling for the extension of a sand dredging pipeline to combat severe beach erosion threatening their community. The community group, Bring Blacksmiths Back, has expressed fears that the upcoming permanent dredging solution for the Swansea Channel, set to operate by mid-2026, will not sufficiently protect Blacksmiths Beach.
The crisis escalated last week when a storm exposed the significant erosion of a viewing platform located at Maneela Street, leading to its closure by Lake Macquarie City Council due to safety concerns. The council announced this week that the $350,000 platform would be dismantled and not rebuilt at its original site due to ongoing erosion issues.
Miles Niddrie, a member of Bring Blacksmiths Back and owner of Learn to Surf Newcastle, highlighted that the beach’s erosion has worsened since a $600,000 upgrade of the Blacksmiths breakwater by the NSW government in 2015. “The breakwater extension has drastically changed the sand flow, diminishing the surf break that boardriders have enjoyed for over 60 years,” said Niddrie.
Aerial satellite images from 2014 reveal alarming changes, with the viewing platform now significantly closer to the ocean than ever before. Niddrie emphasized that the erosion is not a recent phenomenon but a gradual process that has been ongoing for nearly a decade. “This is not something that’s happened in the last two storms,” he stated, pointing to the long-term impact of infrastructure changes.
The new dredging project, partly funded by a $10 million federal investment and an additional $6 million from the state, aims to address erosion by pumping sand from the Swansea Channel onto Blacksmiths Beach. However, Niddrie argues that without extending the pipeline further south, the majority of the sand will simply wash away towards Redhead Beach.
Council spokespersons have noted that extending the pipeline would incur costs beyond the allocated budget, stating that current plans focus on delivering the dredge by 2026 to ensure safe navigation in the channel. “The sand dredging will help address erosion from Blacksmiths to Redhead,” they said, referencing the natural redistribution of sand by ocean currents.
In the meantime, the community’s concerns are growing as the Blacksmiths boat ramp, also set for redevelopment using part of the federal funding, is facing delays. The existing ramp began to fail in 2023, and temporary repairs are only a short-term solution, with upgrades expected to begin in April 2024.
Niddrie criticized the allocation of funds, arguing, “That million dollars should have been spent on extending the pipeline. It would have made a significant difference for our beach.” With the community rallying for immediate action, the pressure is mounting on local authorities to reconsider the dredging strategy to safeguard Blacksmiths Beach.
As the situation develops, residents are urged to stay informed about ongoing discussions and potential changes to the dredging plan. The community’s future hangs in the balance as they push for solutions to combat the relentless erosion threatening their beloved beach.
