Port Macquarie-Hastings Council acting director Dan Croft said the current strategy recommends council open the lake once the water height reaches 1.6 metres.  

“The lake is currently at 1.5 metres, so it is very close. 

“With the planned dredging works council might need to delay opening the lake until the works are complete.”

Dredging work to address erosion at the Lake Cathie Reserve is currently scheduled to commence mid to late May.

Mr Croft said dredging while the lake is closed will allow the sand to settle and replenish the foreshore. 

“The effectiveness and safety of the dredging work would be compromised if the lake were open and exposed to tides,” he said. 

“Dredging is optimised when there is no influence of tidal forces that can move and wash away sand in the lake.

“This cannot be achieved if the lake is opened to the ocean.”

Mr Croft said any future opening of the lake would be considered once the lake reaches 1.6 metres.

“It’s important that the sand used to replenish the foreshore is given adequate time to settle so that it can withstand the tidal forces associated with any natural or manual opening of the lake in the future,” he said. 

“At this point in time, council is hoping to complete the dredging work first and open the lake a little later.

“Although it is all dependent on the weather and rainfall amounts.”