The bubbles flowed on Monday to celebrate the start of the Lake Conjola dredging project.
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Lake Conjola Community Association president Robyn Kerves joined with Shoalhaven Councillor Patricia White to pop a bottle of champagne as machinery moved into the site.
Over the next two weeks contractors will prepare for the dredging project that will commence immediately after the April school holidays.
Mrs Kerves said she was thrilled work was underway and Cr White said she had always promised to pop a bottle of champagne when “it finally started”.
“It’s been two years, but it’s finally happening,” she said.
Council’s assets and works director Ben Stewart said the dredging company was in the process of mobilising to the site at the entrance to lake Conjola and residents would see equipment in the carpark near the boat ramp.
“The physical setup of pipework and establishment of the dredge will take place over the next two weeks and the dredging of sand will commence after this establishment,” he said.
“The boat ramp and carpark near the entrance will remain open throughout the school holidays, while access to the beach will be accessible from the boardwalk only.
“The foreshore area of the lake, east of the boat ramp, will be closed to the public throughout the dredging program.”
The dredged sand will be placed along the dune and beach on the southern side of the lake from the boat ramp to the east.
Approximately 3,000 cubic metres of sand will be transported to Mollymook where beach nourishment and protection works will be carried out along Blackwater Creek.
During the operation sand will be temporarily stockpiled in the carpark and opposite the boat ramp and during this period the boat ramp and public carpark, beyond the Holiday Haven boundary, will be closed to all non‑construction vehicles.
Dredging is expected to take up to eight weeks.
Cr White said council was considering digging out the entrance to ensure optimum success of the dredging project.
Watch the celebratory cork popping video here and see where the dredge will be carried out:
