People thinking of artificially opening Lake Conjola face fines of up to $110,000 if convicted of opening the Intermittently Closed and Open Lake and Lagoon (ICOLL).
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There are about 135 estuaries of various sizes in New South Wales that drain to the sea including rivers, bays, creeks, lakes, lagoons and inlets.
About 70 coastal lakes and lagoons, mostly south of Sydney, alternate between being open or closed to the ocean.
Past incidents of South Coast ICOLLs opened illegally have resulted in large fish kills and smell odours as exposed marine vegetation and dead fish decomposed, a NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) spokesperson said.
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“Generally a poor environmental outcome for the lake/lagoon and the local community,” the DPI spokesperson said.
An online petition, which has gained more than 11,500 signatures, has called on Shoalhaven City Council to dredge Lake Conjola. The lake closed in April and was last dredged in August 2016.
Earlier in November, council reminded the public that state government agencies would have to approve any actions to artificially open the lake outside adopted conditions in the The Lake Conjola Interim Entrance Management Policy (August 2013).
DPI Fisheries works closely with Local and State Government Authorities to open ICOLLs in a way to avoid any environmental harm, the DPI spokesperson said.
“ICOLL openings are managed very carefully to avoid causing serious environmental harm, including fish kills, to these systems,” the DPI spokesperson said.
“People who attempt to illegally open an ICOLL face on the spot fines of $1000 and the loss of any equipment used to open the ICOLL. If a person is convicted of illegally opening an ICOLL, they face fines up to a maximum of $110,000.”
To report anyone suspected of illegally opening an ICOLL, call the Fishers Watch phone line on 1800 043 536, report it online at the DPI website or through the FishSmart NSW app.