Lake Illawarra's future | November 18, 2024 | Illawarra Mercury - video Dailymotion

Wollongong, Shellharbour councils join forces to fix Lake Illawarra

Transcript

00:00Coasts are dynamic and complex environments, though as a community we all love life on

00:09the coast, there are hazards and risks that this lifestyle exposes us to.

00:15Lake Illawarra is a highly valued natural asset on our coastline.

00:20It was once a lake that closed and opened intermittently, and over the years has changed

00:25naturally and more recently due to human interventions.

00:30In the past, the former Lake Illawarra Authority sought to address poor water quality concerns

00:35by opening the entrance with permanent rock training walls.

00:39While this strategy improved some aspects of the lake's usability and value to some

00:44of the community, this solution upset the natural balance of the lake system.

00:50The permanent entrance has caused significant change to the lake and the entrance channel,

00:55exposing the lake to the impacts of storm surges and increasing foreshore erosion.

01:01These changes are expected to continue for at least the next 120 years, with more loss

01:07of public land, damage to properties, cultural heritage and infrastructure including the

01:13Windang Bridge.

01:15This will create public safety hazards.

01:18Lake Illawarra is managed by Wollongong City Council, Shell Harbour City Council and NSW

01:24Government Agencies under a Coastal Management Program.

01:29This program provides a 10-year plan for managing and responding to coastal hazards, so our

01:34communities can continue to enjoy life on the coast while being prepared for future

01:39risks.

01:41Under the program, we are working with NSW Government Agencies and expert water researchers

01:47to study the problem and find possible ways forward.

01:51The study has considered many options to reduce erosion in the entrance channel and looked

01:56at a range of issues including how each option impacts the environment, how it supports community

02:02values, its costs and how it can be adapted given future changing conditions.

02:10Option 1, rock weirs near Windang Bridge.

02:14Option 2, rock weir near Windang Bridge with gate structures.

02:19Option 3, rock weirs at western end of the channel.

02:23Option 4, staggered groin field with armoured bed.

02:27Option 5, remove training walls and sand nourishment.

02:32The study has found that all options have trade-offs.

02:36Some options may not work well with nature and some may have unwanted impacts on community

02:41values and lifestyle around the lake.

02:44We would like to hear the community's feedback on what they think is most important in managing

02:49the lake entrance.

02:52We will report on and consider your feedback when we talk to both councils and other level

02:57of government about next steps.