Mr Jack Jones from the Lake Cathie Progress Association is fully in favour of such an option, as are a majority of the residents. However, I see that PMHC Director of Development and the Environment, Mr Matt Rogers is opposed to such an action.

This is typical of council's response saying the Lake will fill with sand, but it is too late for it already has, if Mr Rogers bothered to check at low tide?

Why? Because the present type of opening tends to sweep sand in.

The solution is to build a permanent breakwall jutting into sea at the north side of the Lake, this would then stop the Lake filling with sand due to restriction of the flow along Lighthouse beach.

This is what breakwalls do. Just see your own breakwall into the Hastings River, also the breakwall at North Haven as well as at Forster just to mention three.

Their purpose is to stop the flow of sand into the various lakes and rivers. They also break up rips and currents and actually make beaches safer, which is why you find them all along the beaches at the Gold Coast.

I would respectfully suggest Mr. Rogers goes back to the drawing board on this one. 

The benefits to tourism and to Lake Cathie are enormous, as the lake is a safe swimming area for families with young children, and also draws families and huge crowds to the lake when it is open.

Surely one permanent opening is cheaper in the long run, to having to open the lake every 6 to 8 months and dredge out the sand?

Tony Evans, Lake Cathie

(Editor's note: The quote in the story attributed to Jack Jones should have inferred that Mr Jones was supportive of further investigation of strategies to open the lake, not that he fully supported the permanent opening of the lake.)