The smelly black ooze and poor water quality plaguing San Remo residents near the power station outlet will be treated by establishing a saltmarsh swale.
Poor water quality is decreasing potential habitat for marine life and wading birds and without remediation work the situation would worsen.
Several options were considered by a water quality consultant and an ecological consultant to remedy the problem in a small bay between the rock groyne and foreshore reserve near the intersection of Highview Ave and Liamena Ave.
The preferred option is to reclaim the little bay and incorporate a new saltmarsh swale into the foreshore reserve.
Central Coast Council has care and control of the Crown Lands foreshore reserve and the lake bed is under the care and control of Crown Lands.
Following discussions with Crown Lands officers, Council will now request Crown Lands to adjust the reserve boundary in order to reclaim that part of the lake to establish the saltmarsh swale.
A Council report says that the new saltmarsh swale will cap the black ooze, replace the area of poor water circulation with saltmarsh, allow wrack to decompose on the dry bank as the water level in the lake fluctuates, filter pollutants from the upstream developed catchment and provide habitat for migratory wading birds, juvenile fish and invertebrates.
Nearby residents will be consulted prior to construction of the swale.
The only cost to Council will be administration fees associated with the request to Crown Lands for the reserve boundary adjustment and this is covered by a Federal Government Environmental Restoration Fund Grant.
Council has already received those funds, with the stipulation that work is done by March 31, 2023.
Sue Murray