Alarm bells are ringing for residents and businesses at The Entrance with many saying the channel and the lake are in the worse shape they’ve seen.
The channel is almost fully blocked, with water only able to get into the lake at high tide, and just a trickle getting out.
Many longtime residents say they can’t remember it being as bad as it is now and they fear a rain event will cause severe flooding.
“It is pretty bad at the moment, and I have lived here a long time,” resident Steve Stapylton said.
“Water can only just get in and hardly any is getting out meaning there is no flow, and there’s so much sand, it looks like another country.
“Nature put it there, and nature can take it away with rain, which at the same time could cause flooding.
“Fish and prawns can’t get into the lake to spawn – with no prawns, there are no fish and with no fish there are no tourists because they all want to fish.
“You can’t fix the problem; the only solution is maintenance.”
Stapylton said numerous reports and studies over the years showed there was no way of fixing the problem.
“What it needs is maintenance throughout the year – it needs digging out three or four times a year,” he said.
“Put the sand in front of The Entrance North homes where they really need it, or in front of Dunleith Caravan Park and make a beach for the tourists.
“I think the Council has missed the boat now – the lake is very low at the moment, and it needs rain to move the sand, but at the same time rain could cause flooding.”
Member for The Entrance David Mehan said he would be seeking advice on what can be done to improve the situation.
“Council removed 26,650m3 of sand from the channel in May this year using funds provided under the NSW Government’s Boating Access Dredging Program,” he said.
“The channel remains in a constricted state due to natural sand buildup and the current dry weather means there is little water outflow to push sand from the channel mouth.
“Council still has $163,174 in funding to undertake work in the channel, and I will be taking advice on what further can be done to provide a better exchange between the ocean and the lake.”
A Central Coast Council spokesperson said the gradual narrowing of The Entrance channel was a temporary phenomenon unique to Intermittently Closed and Open Lakes and Lagoons systems (ICOLLs) like Tuggerah Lakes that are dynamic and constantly shaped by coastal and catchment processes.
“This natural movement is influenced by two opposing influences – freshwater from rainfall in the catchment area pushes sand out of the channel, whilst the relentless ocean waves deposit sand into the channel,” she said.
The spokesperson said in recent times, with a noticeable decrease in rainfall, the ocean’s waves have tipped the balance, causing an accumulation of sand on the berm.
“This constriction, while seemingly problematic, actually brings many benefits for the overall health of the estuary,” she said.
“A narrower channel maintains slightly higher water levels within the lake, enhancing its ecological dynamics.
“The increased depth of water helps immerse the lake’s fringing wetland habitats, assists with the distribution of wrack and improves mixing of the water between shallow nearshore areas and deeper parts of the lakes, resulting in improved water quality, especially in the nearshore zones.
“Tuggerah Lakes are marginally higher than the ocean (currently about 29cm above mean sea level), perched “uphill” above sea level like a bathtub perched above the floor.
“If the channel was kept wide open all the time the lake’s water levels would slowly drop during periods of reduced rainfall.
“Such a scenario would have a negative impact for water quality, wildlife, and community recreational activities.”
She said Council continued to monitor the situation and remained ready to implement the Interim Entrance Management Procedure in the event that a severe weather event is predicted.
She said works recently completed would help ensure the Council was prepared should intervention be required for flood mitigation purposes.
To learn more about Council’s procedure for managing The Entrance Channel, including water levels and intervention triggers, go to https://www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/environment/coastlines/estuaries-lagoons-and-wetlands/tuggerah-lakes-estuary
Council also encourages the community to visit https://www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare-emergency to be informed on the best way to plan and prepare for an emergency, including flooding, to help alleviate any impact.
Denice Barnes