Cr Peter Alley raised the lake opening issue as a matter of urgency at Port Macquarie-Hastings Council's meeting on Wednesday, April 15.

Mayor Peta Pinson ruled the matter was of great urgency and permitted it to be considered at the meeting.

Cr Alley said there was some community concern that Lake Cathie may be put on the backburner as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the purpose of raising the matter was to send some words of assurance that Lake Cathie was important to the council and it was a priority.

Cr Alley said the council was ready to act on Lake Cathie in terms of a high water level opening should the circumstances arise.

Those circumstances are when the water level reaches 1.6 metres and there are "optimal conditions" in terms of the tide and long-term weather forecast which predicts rain.

The lake's water level was 1.494m on Wednesday, April 15.

The opening would be under the emergency powers in the Local Government Act to maintain water supply, sewerage and drainage.

Director Melissa Watkins said the council was putting the final touches on the opening environmental assessment.

She said the council would be ready to open the lake, subject to the availability of contractors, in accordance with the opening strategy, which was not just about reaching the 1.6m trigger but noting that optimal conditions must prevail.

Cr Justin Levido said it was fair to say it had been brought home to all councillors by the Lake Cathie community that the lake was at the forefront of their mind.

He said it was important that the council made it clear it had not forgotten them.

Deputy mayor Lisa Intemann said there had been recent internal emails and discussions on the lake issue, particularly about concerns the council didn't have the power to open the lake in accordance with its strategy should the need occur.

"This [motion by Cr Alley] was to clarify that the council has the power to act to open the lake under certain circumstances, and it should be taken on board by all in the community, because it was a very difficult time last year when there was a suggestion that council had been acting outside of its rights," she said.

The council unanimously approved the five-point resolution.

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