That's the burning questions for a number of Ballina Crescent residents in the wake of a decision by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to further investigate the dredging option.

But, as resident Deborah Hale points out: will council be liable if any further damage is caused to revetment walls that protect residents' property?

Canal living attracts premium council rates and residents also face further levies for jetties and boat ramps as part of the canal lifestyle.

Ms Hale says she agrees with the increase in rates and fees but says the canals need to dredged more regularly than currently is the case.

Fellow resident Mike Cooper - who has lived on the canals for over 30 years - says he has requested council undertake dredging "for many years".

"In my time on the canals, (Ballina Crescent) has only been dredged the once," he said.

"We've been given timelines to when the work would be undertaken but those have passed and there is little to no explanation as to why the work has not been done.

"Most recently, we were told in 2017 that funding for the dredging was in place and, according to information in newsletters to council, we would get the work done by March 2020.

"That didn't happen."

Ms Hale says the canals are so shallow it is difficult for residents to manoeuvre their boats to enter the river system.

"We pay the extra rates, we pay the extra levies - so why hasn't the work been completed?

"Residents have signed a petition calling on council to act; we just want them to fulfil their obligations.

"Surely the funding is there (in council) because all the residents pay for the maintenance work to be done."

Mr Cooper said that 20 years ago residents would combine to hire a backhoe to undertake the works but that was now only possible by submitting a development application.

He said dredged sand was used to replenish beaches (visible at low tide) and also to strengthen the revetment walls.

Mayor Peta Pinson put forward a mayoral minute at the July 1 council meeting in response to numerous complaints received from residents about the suspension of dredging and beach replenishment in the Newport and Ballina Crescent canals.

Cr Pinson said dredging works across the Settlement Shores estate canal system have been undertaken and are nearing completion.

The two canals of concern are not included in the current contract managed by Public Works.

The dredging project underway in the canal network is worth $1.1 million.

The canals in Ballina and Newport Crescents were last partially dredged in 2006.

The canal system is the last approved canal estate in Australia.

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Cr Pinson asked if additional funding could be sourced through council's strategic reserves fund to complete the canal dredging and beach replenishment in both Ballina and Newport Crescent canals.

Cr Lisa Intemann had concerns about seeking additional funding without further exploration of what is required and possible.

Cr Rob Turner and Cr Geoff Hawkins shared resident concerns but asked if it was the best use of council's strategic funds reserves, saying this was not a "strategic priority".

Cr Turner questioned the sense of urgency on this matter from the mayor, suggesting it would be best to investigate the matter further and seek advice on next steps before committing any funds.

Director Dan Bylsma clarified that hydro surveys of the canal network prior to the commencement of the dredging contract showed that both Ballina and Newport canals were at correct depth.

The survey was designed to improve the canal network from a navigational perspective.

Mr Bylsma said as a result of that, the contract commenced in the two larger canals where there was also enough dredged material available to replenish beaches within 300m of works being undertaken.

"As you work through the smaller canal networks, those pockets of gold of identified as parcels of dredgable material of a sufficient quality to replenish beaches becomes more difficult and challenging," Mr Bylsma explained.

Mr Bylsma said the the Newport and Ballina canals are at their design profile suggesting there were not significant impediments to vessel movement, barring a couple of two prominent "snags".

Equally, the abundance of any suitable material to dredge and replenish beaches was not available in those areas.

Mr Bylsma said dredged material can only be used within 300 metres of where it is sourced to nourish beaches.

Some residents over the years have taken up the option to nourish their own beach but Mr Bylsma said this is financially not a viable solution for every resident.

Cr Pinson questioned whether a variation in the dredging contract could pipe excess sand to those beaches in need of nourishment.

Mr Bylsma said the current contract does not provide any of the necessary equipment to undertake that scale of works.

Residents in the canals pay an annual levy of $132, based on 2019-20 fee structure, for maintenance activities in the canals which includes dredging.

In addition to that $132 applicable to all residents with a jetty structure in Settlement Shores and Broadwater canals, Broadwater residents pay a separate levy above those rates specific maintenance works. Council receives $113,000 per annum from residents from these levies.

Cr Intemann instead successfully moved that the current dredging program be completed first before general manager Jeffery Sharp conduct a briefing with councillors and then report to the September 2020 council meeting about the history of the Settlement Shores dredging program and the issues raised by residents.

Cr Peter Alley agreed this was a more suitable proposal.

Cr Pinson said this didn't give residents in Ballina and Newport any assurance their expectations were going to be met or if they would even see an outcome.

"Where is the sand going in that system? If it is being lost, council needs to be doing something to keep it there. We do need to ensure that the design profile of the canals is maintained," Cr Intemann said.

"The first priority for council is dredging to maintain a navigable channel. The second priority is for beach replenishment arising from dredged material found from the canals.

"The problem we find ourselves in is there not sufficient dredge material in Newport and Ballina. They are already at design level enabling navigation, therefore there is no material to be taken out of there.

"When you say you want residents' expectations being met in terms of beach nourishment, we can't satisfy that at the moment because the material is simply not there.

"We have to find a better solution long term."

Cr Intemann said a report will allow council to further consult with the community, manage expectations and determine the best way forward.

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