Toukley Community Action Group has instigated a community petition calling on Central Coast Council to take immediate and urgent action about the wrack build-up in Tuggerah lakes.
In 2020 the Tuggerah Lakes Expert Panel recommended in its report that Council implement strategic wrack harvesting but the Action Group says that Council has failed to implement the recommendations.
The Panel’s report said that the rate of wrack removal wasn’t matching the amount of wrack deposited and this should be addressed with upgrades to machinery as well as improved methods to harvest in shallower waters of the nearshore as well as offshore.
The Panel said a community education and engagement program about wrack processes could help Council be more proactive in response to wrack accumulation and ooze.
Group spokesperson, Bronwyn Evans, said the build-up of wrack was impacting resident and tourist enjoyment of the lakes – Tuggerah, Budgewoi and Munmorah.
Allan Anderson and Bronwyn Evans meet with Member for Wyong David Harris about wrack problem in Tuggerah lakes
“Here we are, two years after the Panel’s report, and the build-up of wrack, as well as algae, is extending 50m and more from the foreshores and it’s making our lakes unusable,” she said.
“It’s unpleasant for swimming and other water sports such as kayaking or paddle boarding, dangerous for boats because the wrack entangles propellers, prevents land-based activity such as prawning or fishing and it’s really offensive from a multi-sensory perspective – sight, smell and touch.
“Beyond that, the wrack and algae needs to be removed from the lake to allow the environmental cycle to complete.
“The normal cycle is for the wrack to wash up on shore and break down, but this is not occurring and often is unable to do so due to urbanisation of the lake foreshores.
“Council has had two years to act on the Panel’s recommendations and there is no evidence of this occurring.
“The excuse of financial issues is not valid any more with the Administrator’s 2022 in Review report to the community proudly highlighting that all financial recovery milestones have been met and that the Council is now financially stable and on-track for a sustainable future.
“That report also says that Central Coast is recognised for its nature-based tourism but the wrack and algae build-up significantly detracts from people’s enjoyment of our natural environment,” Evans said.
“We’ve spoken to tourists who have said that they won’t come back to Canton Beach because of the issue.”
The community wants Council to take immediate action to significantly increase the wrack collection, to upgrade machinery to facilitate ongoing wrack harvesting in multiple locations across the Tuggerah lakes system and implement methods to harvest shallower waters nearshore as well as offshore.
Also, they are requesting Council to declare all funding received from other sources to assist with implementation of the Tuggerah Lakes Expert Panel recommendations and the actual expenditure of that funding, particularly in relation to wrack harvesting.
Toukley Action Group’s petition can be signed online at https://www.change.org/p/urgently-implement-tuggerah-lake-expert-panel-recommendation-re-strategic-wrack-harvesting
Group members have met with Member for Wyong, David Harris, who has acknowledged their concerns and strongly supports Toukley Community Action Group’s objectives in this matter.
He is collecting signatures for the petition at his stall at the Sunday Toukley Markets in Coles carpark.
The petition will be presented to Council to have the matter raised on the agenda for Council’s March 28 meeting.
Sue Murray