Gary Downes says he is considering leaving Lake Cathie after over 20 years as a resident.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He says the health of the lake coupled with council's inability to successfully manage the build-up of sand were contributing factors.
The long-time resident also says many locals share his view of the poor state of the popular lake.
Mr Downes describes the lake's current condition as 'the worst I have ever seen it'.
He also blames the construction of the Lake Cathie and the Kenwood Drive bridges as key reasons behind the continued sand build-up at the lake's entrance.
"I am seriously looking to relocate to North Haven," he said.
"I've lived here for 25 years and another 10 years at Bonny Hills before that.
"The state of the lake right now is a health hazard; it stinks at times and you can smell it from the back of my place on Evans Street.
"I wouldn't even paddle in it," he said.
Mr Downes said the lake was jet black prior to its most recent opening but the water was still dirty weeks later.
"The water just can't move and flood itself out," he added.
Standing on the western side of the bridge, Mr Downes said 'you can walk all over this waterway and not get your knees wet'.
You can walk all over this waterway and not get your knees wet.
- Gary Downes
"I think those responsible should dredge this section (the western side of the bridge) really deep first of all. This would create a large volume of water which would then flood out," he said.
"They should then open the lake up right in the middle of the built-up sand.
"That would create a better flow and it would also freshen it up.
"It has been done before (dredging on the western side)."
Fellow resident Alan James agreed, saying the use of fill on either side of the two bridges made a significant difference to the water flow.
"The construction of those two bridges meant that they also narrowed the water access," he said.
"The use of fill to create the entrances and exists to the two bridges has stopped the flow of water.
"You really need to get some water in this (western) side.
"The current state of the waterway is disgusting."
Mr James said there had been some offers over the years from contractors willing to dredge the lake but these had fallen on deaf ears.
Mr Downes says he has looked at a seafaring map from the late 1800s and early 1900s which shows the depth of the lake as around 15 metres (50 feet).
"Back in the day it was a safe harbour for passing vessels to use when storms were approaching," he said.
"These vessels moored up near Lake Innes.
"It was wall to wall water.
"I thought we were here to restore things, and not wreck them," he said.
Also making news:
