The state government, through Maritime NSW, has committed to removing 20 Olympic swimming pools worth of sand from the popular waterway in the first half of this year, with a call for tenders expected this month.

The Newcastle Herald has reported in recent weeks that there have been calls for a permanent solution to keep the channel clear, which often becomes treacherous for boaties because of fast-shifting sand.

In parliament on Tuesday, Ms Catley said conditions in the channel were worsening each day.

"That is why a permanent dredging solution is needed to combat the recurrent silting," she said. "With a new transport minister, the government has an opportunity to correct the errors of the past and finally deliver a permanent dredging solution for the Swansea Channel."

Ms Catley said skippers from across NSW had told her they would bypass the lake for other destinations such as Newcastle, Port Stephens and the Haweksbury River due to conditions in the channel.

"Silting in the Swansea Channel has also drawn attention from local and out-of-area yacht clubs, including the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club," she said.

"Despite Lake Macquarie being one of their preferred sailing destinations, the uncertainty of safe passage and the stories of groundings and yachts requiring assistance from Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie discourages them from sailing from Sydney. This year Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie has already surpassed the total number of vessel assists it completed for 2021."

When announcing its plan in December, Maritime NSW said Swansea Channel was a top priority.

"Funding had been allocated for a major dredging campaign of the Swansea Channel in 2022, improving the functionality necessary to maintain navigation channels and provide access to Lake Macquarie that has become restricted by natural sand shoaling," the agency's acting executive director Darren Wood said at the time.

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