From AC Press - State has bigger plans for Strathmere beach-fill project

State has bigger plans for Strathmere beach-fill project: "UPPER TOWNSHIP - Strathmere is getting an $8 million beach fill, more than doubling the scope of the original project, the state said Wednesday.

The state Department of Environmental Protection will go out to bid in February on the project to pump sand onto Ludlam Island, the strand shared by Strathmere and Sea Isle City, spokeswoman Elaine Makatura said.

Makatura said the state identified more money for the project, which initially was estimated at about $3 million.

'The total estimate will be about $8 million,' she said.

The dredge will pump sand from Seaview Avenue south through Whale Beach.

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'It's fantastic news for Upper Township. We've worked extremely diligently to be in a position to do this,' Mayor Richard Palombo said.

The township secured easements from dozens of property owners and is taking a few holdouts to court to seize the beachfront lots through eminent domain - all to satisfy the state DEP's demands to ensure public access to the beaches.

'I want to recognize the people in Strathmere who signed the easements and cooperated,' Palombo said. 'The DEP wasn't going to do this project unless that was in place.'

The mayor also credited Solicitor Dan Young and staff in the township Clerk's Office who prepared the reams of paperwork inv"