Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has identified Revive Lake Cathie, Camden Haven Chamber of Commerce and the Lake Cathie Progress Association as key local community stakeholders but have held separate consultation meetings for community groups and government agencies over the last six months.

Revive Lake Cathie president Danielle Maltman said it was "disgusting" the community was being prevented from having a seat at the table.

"It is incredibly disappointing and disgusting that all along we have wanted to take a whole of community and government approach to finding solutions to saving our lake and the community is still being held at arm's length," Mrs Maltman said.

"Right from the beginning of this process we knew it would take long-term solutions and consulting with the community along with all government stakeholders should be the way to do it.

"Hosting separate meetings seems like doubling up on everyone's time when we are all focused on improving the lake for the future."

The health of the lake continues to decline with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council on Friday, December 6 erecting two signs on the Lake Cathie foreshore advising people not to swim in the lake due to poor water quality.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council director Melissa Watkins said this was due to the ongoing deterioration of the lake.

"Following a number of complaints from the community regarding water quality and odour, council has installed signage advising the community that swimming in Lake Cathie is not advisable," Ms Watkins said.

"Low water levels are making the lake undesirable to aquatic life, resulting in an odour generated by dead and dying fish and floating debris.

"Council follows the 'Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water', issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

"These guidelines state that recreational water bodies should be free of visible objects such as floating debris, oil scum and other substances that produce objectionable colour, odour and taste, including from aquatic life.

"The signs will remain in place until water conditions for recreational use improve."

This comes after numerous reports to the Department of Primary Industries about potential sightings of red spot disease in fish at the lake.

Port Macquarie-Hastings mayor Peta Pinson agreed that community groups like Revive Lake Cathie and the Lake Cathie Progress Association should always be included in any key stakeholder meetings.

"If it was up to me they [community representatives] would be in the government stakeholder meetings but that is not up to me," Cr Pinson said.

"Other government agencies say they are not ready to have the community groups in attendance.

"I will again be raising this issue when we meet."

Revive Lake Cathie say they have requested the inclusion of local community stakeholders in the government stakeholder meetings since their own meeting with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council general manager Craig Swift-McNair on July 8, 2019.

A government stakeholder meeting was planned to take place on December 10 but has since been cancelled and rescheduled for the new year due to "the complex issue of a potential opening of Lake Cathie", according to council director Melissa Watkins.

"Due to Council's immediate focus on addressing the complex issue of a potential opening of Lake Cathie, the government stakeholder meeting scheduled for December 10 has been postponed until the new year," she said.

"It is expected that the community stakeholder meeting scheduled for December 16 will proceed."

Revive Lake Cathie's president said despite the rescheduling the community stakeholder meeting on December 16 was the perfect opportunity for all stakeholders to collaborate together.

"With the government stakeholder meeting postponed it would be the perfect opportunity for all key stakeholders, government and community, to come together at our planned community meeting on December 16," Mrs Maltman said.

"It should have been this way from the beginning but we welcome government agencies coming to the table next Monday."

At the November meeting of council, councillors voted in favour of opening the lake to the ocean due to extreme environmental factors.

Council have also confirmed there is no date set for the lake's opening at this stage.

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