James Cook University Associate Professor Colin Creighton, a coastal systems expert, said Port Macquarie-Hastings Council was best placed to provide that leadership.

Mr Creighton noted there were many government agencies which needed to work with the council and the community was already on side thinking hard about how the waterway could be repaired.

Concerned residents formed Revive Lake Cathie to achieve the sustainable health of the ailing lake system.

The council brought together the key government agencies in late July to discuss Lake Cathie estuary system issues.

Mr Creigton told the August 21 council meeting there was too much sand and not enough water.

Putting some of the sand from the entrance along the foreshore and beach would be a good use of that resource, he said.

Mr Creighton believes the Kenwood Drive bridge needs to be replaced with a full causeway to allow tidal flow.

He also saw the interpreted Innes Ruins which overlooks Lake Innes.

"We stood there and looked down to the lake and I realised what a wonderful asset Lake Innes can be for Port Macquarie into the future," Mr Creigton said.

He believes a suction dredge could be used to start to block off Lake Innes to allow the water to move in and out during high water conditions.

The crowd applauded at the end of Mr Creigton's presentation to council.

Mr Creighton, during a visit to the area, also saw the estuary from the air and land, spent time with Revive Lake Cathie representatives and spoke at a dinner about his vision for the future of Lake Cathie-Lake Innes.

Revive Lake Cathie president Danielle Maltman said they were very lucky that good humans like Dr Deb Geronimi and Colin Creighton stepped up to help revive the lake.

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