Business owners say they have noticed a decrease in people visiting the Lake Cathie area and it’s taking a toll on their income.
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Owner of Caramels@Cathie Simon Collins said his trading figures for January 8 this year were halved compared to the corresponding day in 2017.
“It’s so early in the holidays and there is no one around which impacts business,” he said.
Simon said he would like Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to review their strategy to open the lake to the ocean and act quickly to address the erosion issue at the foreshore reserve.
Owner of Lakeside Fashions Wendy Dunn said the area has been overlooked by the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.
“The number one thing people say when they come into my shop is ‘if it was Port Macquarie, it would be done’,” she said.
Under the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council strategy for managing the lake, it will only be opened when the lake height reaches 1.6m Australian Height Datum (AHD), there is poor water quality or when high lake levels threaten breeding cycles of critical habitat.
Development and Environment acting director Dan Croft said council has lodged a Crown licence application to allow for dredging of Lake Cathie in the area on the eastern side of Ocean Drive.
Council has lodged a funding application through Crown Lands Rescuing our Waterways program.
A council spokesperson said it is not known at this stage if or when the funding will be approved.
Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams has been a resident of Lake Cathie for over two decades.
“I know how popular the lake is with local residents and visitors to our area particularly during the summer months,” she said.
“It is a wonderful natural attraction and that is exactly why I am working closely with my colleague the Minister for Lands, Paul Toole to advocate for funding for council to dredge the Lake and to repair the erosion on the foreshore.”
Wendy said the council needs to act sooner rather than later.
“It’s such a great area for families,” she said.
Visitors to the Lake Cathie Foreshore Reserve say they have been turned off swimming due to the colour of the water.
Tegan Everingham from Port Macquarie and Adam Jones from Newcastle were at the reserve on January 1 for a picnic.
Tegan said she wouldn’t swim in the water at the moment.
“It’s a little bit off-putting because of the colour,” she said.
Adam said the colour is due to the run-off from Tea Trees from Lake Innes.
“I know it’s not dirty water,” he said.
“It would put a lot of people off I think.”
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council released the draft Lake Cathie Foreshore Master Plan on November 25 to guide the future of the Lake Cathie foreshore.
The plan proposes features including a fenced playground, picnic areas, wider paths, additional car parks and an interactive family skate and recreation park including seating and exercise equipment.