Council will request permission from the NSW Government to implement the measures in its new Lake Conjola Entrance Management Policy (EMP) immediately.
The significantly improved policy was adopted by Council at last night's ordinary meeting and includes a combination of dry notch maintenance, berm lowering and pilot channel excavation to reduce the risk of flooding for low-lying properties at Lake Conjola.
Council also voted to support the NSW Member for South Coast's commitment to dredge the ebb tide channel, noting that the state government would be responsible for the project including the associated environmental investigations, approvals and potential $1.5 million in funding.
Council will now apply to NSW Crown Lands to obtain a new license to undertake these measures to best manage any potential entrance openings that could be required if the entrance were to close again.
"This new EMP provides for several strategies to help manage flood risk to low-lying properties, including removing some of the sand that has built up over time to assist the entrance to open more effectively in flood events," said Mayor Patricia White.
"This updated and improved EMP is one measure that will be complimented by the implementation of a Total Flood Warning System, a potential NSW Voluntary House Raising scheme and ebb-tide channel dredging through the Lake Conjola CMP," she said.
The updated EMP takes into consideration a range of environmental factors and includes the outcome of an evidence-based, technical review of the planned opening levels and associated entrance management options.
The EMP was developed following extensive consultation with the community and key NSW Government agencies.
