Shoalhaven City Council and Public Works NSW have appointed Haskoning Australia to carry out the environmental review and develop the design for dredging Lake Conjola’s ebb tide channel in New South Wales.
Completion of the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is anticipated by late 2026 or the beginning of 2027. Dredging is targeted for 2027, with the council’s current schedule showing completion in early to mid-2027, provided planning approvals, environmental assessments and site conditions allow.
The council recorded the appointment on Monday, September 14. Public Works NSW issued the request for tender for an REF consultant on August 26, with submissions closing on September 1.
Haskoning Australia will conduct detailed surveys, collect sediment samples, study environmental impacts and consider flood-mitigation measures. The consultancy will also assess environmental constraints and establish how extensive the excavation needs to be.
The detailed design will determine where dredging will take place and how the excavation will be carried out. These investigations and the necessary statutory approvals must be completed before work can begin.
“This is a crucial step in this project designed to improve the resilience of the coastal system and ease residents’ concerns about lake entrance closures and flood risks,” acting Shoalhaven Mayor Peter Wilkins said.
The planned project includes dredging within the ebb tide channel and around the Lake Conjola entrance. Its scope also covers foreshore nourishment and environmental monitoring during delivery.
An AU$1.5 million ($1.1 million) grant from the NSW Government supports the project and is administered through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. The funding was announced in June 2026 following a successful council application.
According to the state government, the project involves a single contingency dredging operation to improve coastal waterways and support flood-response readiness. The funding covers planning, environmental clearances, procurement and delivery.
Dredging at Lake Conjola has been a recurring issue in discussions about entrance management and was raised during consultation on the Lake Conjola Coastal Management Program. In November 2025, the council adopted a new entrance management policy that provides for dry-notch maintenance and berm lowering, as well as pilot-channel excavation to reduce flood risk.
The council’s latest flood-mitigation work at the entrance was carried out in May 2026. Lake Conjola has not undergone major dredging since 2016.