Lake milestone

MINISTER for the Illawarra David Campbell and Member for Illawarra Marianne Saliba last Thursday symbolically placed the first rock to mark the commencement of construction on the final leg of the Lake Illawarra entrance project, the building of Northern breakwater.

Mr Campbell and Ms Saliba both said they were pleased to see construction started on the much anticipated $4 million project.

This final leg of construction will take place in two stages and is expected to take about 18 months to complete, Mr Campbell said.

The first stage is to build the Northern breakwater and once finished, the next stage will be to dredge the sand from the lake entrance and use it to replenish Warilla Beach.

Once completed, the entrance works will ensure the Lake is open to the sea more often, resulting in improved tidal flushing and water quality.

The NSW Government has contributed $2 million towards funding of the project under its Estuary Management Program with Wollongong and Shellharbour Councils each contributing $1 million to make up the remainder.

It may have taken a long time to get to this stage, but the? project has been responsibly driven with extensive and thorough research, planning, design and consultation processes, Mr Campbell said.

I commend all those involved for not bowing to community pressures to short cut the process.

Im not sure it will conclude the controversy over the Lake, but this is a significant milestone in the restoration and protection of the Lake.

Mr Campbell also took the occasion to release the Lake Illawarra Authority Estuary Management Study and Strategic Plan.

While significant gains have been made by the LIA over the past 17 years, more work remains and the NSW Government will continue to work closely with the LIA, Wollongong and Shellharbour Councils and the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority to ensure this important work continues, Mr Campbell said.