Residents and holidaymakers banded together, armed with shovels and buckets, to reopen Lake Conjola’s entrance.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A call on social media drew more than 100 men, women and children to the lake’s entrance about 2pm on Thursday, December 27. Water began to flow to the ocean shortly after.
The goal was to reopen the pilot channel Shoalhaven City Council had dug and opened to the ocean on Friday, December 21. On December 23, photos showed water had stopped flowing through the channel.
Janine French, who started a petition calling on council to dredge the lake, said people wanted to take matters into their own hands because they cared about the state of the lake.
RELATED:
“When you look around, look at the community spirit,” Mrs French said.
“And that’s only word of mouth from this morning. We all joined up, kids and everybody, it’s been great.
“It may close in an hour, but we all got together for the common goal.”
Before digging the pilot channel, council had advised residents optimum scour of the lake may not occur due to the height of the water level, and if extensive rainfall did not follow, the lake may only be open for a short period of time.
“A pilot channel was constructed by council and at the time residents and community were informed that it was likely that the channel would only be temporary,” a council spokesperson said.
“It had been expected that the channel may only last a few days unless significant rainfall occurred, given the lake levels, amount of sand present and expected forecast.
“Council understands the significance of the lake for the community and visitors and is continuing to speak with the community and visitors about the ongoing management of the lake.”
The location for the pilot channel, on the northern side of the entrance, was approved by the Office of Environment.
“The location of the channel was chosen for a number of reasons including, the ebb tidal channel, the location of the bedrock headland, sheltering effect of Green Island from swells and the presence of shorebirds,” the spokesperson said.
“We are also working closely with National Parks and Wildlife, Office of Environment of Heritage and other State Government agencies on the ongoing management of Lake Conjola.”
Council will continue to regularly monitor water levels and water quality.
