A spokesperson said the Department of Lands is primarily concerned with the navigation of the river.

“Currently, a stable marked boating channel provides access from the Myall River to Port Stephens on the western side of Corrie Island.

“This channel may benefit from minor dredging works,” a Department of Lands spokesperson said.

Some Tea Gardens Hawks Nest residents believe dredging the western side of the channel will not fix problems in the river.

Government agencies have acknowledged the channel to the east of Corrie Island is highly dynamic and sand movements are unpredictable.

An estuary management plan, undertaken by Great Lakes Council, shows the need for technical and environmental studies to occur in order to understand the impact and practicability of any work on the area.

“(The department) will continue to work with the community to ensure issues associated with the Myall River are carefully and responsibly resolved,” the spokesperson said.

Representatives from the Department of Lands, NSW Maritime and Great Lakes Council undertook an onsite inspection recently.

Some residents are not happy with the plans, fearing for the wildlife on Corrie Island if the eastern channel is not dredged.

“Our observation indicates the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has done nothing to protect endangered species of birds that will soon be accessible by feral cats, already foxes and dingoes have been seen on the island,” Myall River Action Group spokesperson Gordon Grainger said.

NPWS regional manager Robert Quirk said residents’ fears of dingoes on Corrie Island are unjustified.

“The channel is irrelevant because the island is almost too small for the dingo to live on it, but they do live on the peninsula in the bush,” Mr Quirk said.

Dingoes have always had access to the island because they are able to swim across the lake.

Mr Quirk said the NPWS is working with council on a dog control program in the area.