Funding is being sought to discover the possibility and implications of making Lake Innes a fresh water zone.
The Lake Cathie Progress Association revealed findings to date indicate that a window of opportunity of about five years exists to revert Lake Innes to fresh water and avoid the probability that it will become a “salt marsh”.
National Parks & Wildlife Service has been trying for years, without success, to raise the $120,000 needed for the Environmental Impact Study to confirm past findings and establish the best means of reversion, the Association said.
“In his speech to the NSW State Parliament on November 30 the Member for Port Macquarie Peter Besseling outlined the benefits of reversion to fresh water.
“These include the return of thousands of migratory birds, a refuge for birdlife in times of drought, potential for fresh water fishing and flow-on tourism benefits.
“Mr Besseling has followed up with a letter to Frank Sartor, NSW Minister for Climate Change & the Environment, on January 4 asking for $120,000 to be provided for the Study,” a spokesperson for the Association said.
The Association said studies to date clearly find that increased volumes of water would flow into the lower estuary, improving flushing of the estuary system and increasing the frequency of lake openings.
For more information on Lake Innes and detail of Mr Besseling’s speech please go to the LCPA Website (www.lakecathiepa.com) and go to the Lake Innes link.
