Wollongong, Shellharbour councils join forces to fix Lake Illawarra
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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.