It was great to meet community members, Council experts and the Member for The Entrance, Mr David Mehan MP, on site at The Entrance Channel this week to discuss Council’s next stage of works at The Entrance Channel. 

On 20 February, Council will undertake pre-emptive works at the channel to ensure it is in an appropriate ‘flood ready’ stage, by establishing a pilot channel that can be connected to the ocean should a flood event occur and intervention triggers are activated. 

Council is constantly monitoring the channel condition through real-time data including remote cameras, satellite imagery, and gauges monitoring tidal range within the estuary, as well as forecasts of catchment inflows and lake heights. Through this continued monitoring, Council remains prepared and ready to undertake early intervention at the channel if a flood event is expected. 

It’s important to note that the foreshores of Tuggerah Lakes will always be flood prone, regardless of the channel’s configuration.

Further information is available at the following Council webpages:

• Flood risk tools | Central Coast Council (nsw.gov.au)
• Types of flooding | Central Coast Council (nsw.gov.au)
• Plan and prepare for an emergency | Central Coast Council (nsw.gov.au)

Rik Hart, Administrator