Independent Member for Port Macquarie, Peter Besseling, has urged the National Party to commit real dollars to the Coalition's "sustainable dredging strategy" for NSW.

"The Rescuing Our Waterways policy is a great concept, but $1.5m to support urgent dredging projects across NSW won't go far," Mr Besseling said.

"On the Mid-North Coast, The Nationals have named the Hastings River, the Camden Haven River, Lake Cathie upstream of the bridge, the Lake Cathie foreshore east of the bridge, the Harrington entrance to the Manning River, Farquhar Inlet, and waterways at Port Stephens, Maianbar and Nambucca as priority areas.

"Dredging of Farquhar Inlet alone will cost $240,000, and there is no indication from The Nationals if this funding pledge is based on a 50:50 contribution from the community, which is already existing government policy.

"The problem for cash-strapped councils is that they can't afford to take up state dredging offers because they can't find the funds to meet the 50:50 quota.

"The estimated dredging cost for Port Macquarie-Hastings Council is more than $4 million, so while The Nationals' waterways rescue is welcome, they need to commit real money to real siltation problems; otherwise they are simply doing exactly what the current government is doing."

Mr Besseling, who sought, and won, a greater funding commitment from the state government to dredge Crowdy Harbour last year, said the incoming state government, regardless of its political colours, had to accept greater responsibility for the maintenance of coastal river systems.

"The responsibility of managing some of our state's greatest natural assets can't be left to local councils and ratepayers, who have a big enough challenge in simply maintaining local roads," Mr Besseling said.