Where are the needs for this?

 SWANSEA CHANNEL .The channel at Swansea changes with every tide and is at the moment”critical" at depths of 1.5m and less where sand spurs are developing across the marked safe navigation route. The  "trigger" depth for dredging is 2.4m and this has obviously been passed at those locations. 

 Just as in the Northern Hemisphere on land during snowstorms, roads need to be "snowplowed", the channel can be maintained in a similar manner. With on-call equipment having  facilities to show and record "before" and "after" records as 3d information.

 Accurately "sweeping or plowing" these spurs at the present time is a very viable way of keeping the depth below 2.4m but the scale  of craft for constant monitoring and sweeping needs to be small to keep the operation constant , low cost and viable.

 A sustainable way of doing suitable constant  improvement to the waterway might be to use 4t mega-bags of sand strategically placed and relocated as necessary - to work with the geomorphology and fluvial processes at work - rather than to attempt to completely control them as we "puny humans " always feel we can do.

 Or alternatively  it seems sensible to examine  gaining approval to extract surplus sand as "swept" and sell in a Not For Profit way to assist sustain the operations of all the authorised  Marine and Beach Rescue Services as well.  An organization that can do this needs to be professionally structured and administered by people highly experienced in the channel's processes. The experience must be gained by a gradual "startup" and approved "ramping up" of operations one small proven step at a time..

 The Google Earth picture for the channel entrance shows well the sandbar buildup at the very entrance, this sand can be swept northward to the tip and other side of the northern breakwater to assist in the nourishment of Blacksmiths Beach - eventually in a reliable  well formed sandbank of the shape that the natural process's normally form and sustain.

 OLD BAR or FARQUARS INLET.  The long term closure of this navigation channel due to a multitude of reasons (less   river flow is but one) is at a terrible environment, financial and recreational loss to the area involving landowners, oyster farmers, fishing and recreational boaters.  Debate on its status has been to date overshadowed by enormous insurmountable cost projections that cannot yield sufficient benefits and fears of a loss of protected natural environment. The natural environment is first to be protected in any plan and strategy (by law and intention) and no one "interest group" can claim ownership of the precinct for their own purposes or lifestyles just as no outside group to the area has the right to dictate to the local people on how they wish the local people to live their lives.

 Once the channel opens over the "flood notch" it can be kept maintained with a combination of "sweeping" to sea and also a practical way of keeping and protecting the environment may be to bag some of this sand in 4t geotextile "handled bags" and place them strategically. (As required by process and expert advice) Some placement of these might be done to pre-empt the opening especially where natural improved assets require protection.

 On behalf of the local people, landowners, oyster farmers, fishing and boaters a request has gone again to the local Federal Member Mark Vaile for assistance obtaining the use of additional suitable equipment for this research. (Surplus amphibious LARK V equipped with 5t self loading cranes and 5t cargo bay). Before retirement these were stationed at Newcastle and our area has many persons that are trained and experienced in their safe operation and maintenance. This request is to ensure that they are not destroyed as they may have a vital role to play in protection of Coastal Assets in the future.