Over Wednesday, December 19 and Thursday, December 20 a channel will be prepared before the expected lake opening on Friday, December 21 at the ebb tide.

The opening will be located on the northern side of the spit due to the presence of Shorebirds in the area.

Shoalhaven City Council acting environmental service manager Shane Pickering said was working the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) to find solutions to the current situation at the lake and it had been monitoring the lake levels for some time.

“It has been deemed that whilst the lake is not at optimum levels for an opening it is deemed that the current level will still allow for an opening to occur,” Mr Pickering said.

“Optimum scour may not occur and if extensive rainfall does not follow, the lake may only be open for a short period of time (weeks/month).

“We request that residents and visitors stay clear of the works to open the lake, for their safety and for the safety of shorebirds that are also within this vicinity whilst council staff undertake works.”

Ulladulla’s area weather station recorded falls of 15mm on Friday, December 14, 16.6mm on Saturday, December 15 and 29mm on Sunday, December 16.

Bendalong’s weather station received 13mm on Friday, 9mm on Saturday and 2.8mm on Sunday.

In November, thousands of South Coast residents and visitors backed a petition to open Lake Conjola’s entrance. The lake’s entrance closed in April. It was last dredged in August, 2016.