The water level at Lake Cathie is approaching the trigger point for an artificial opening, but it may not guarantee any action.
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On Tuesday, March 31 the water level at Lake Cathie was at 1.46m, according the the Manly Hydraulics Laboratory.
The Lake Cathie Opening Strategy outlines the lake is only to be opened when the lake water level is at, or exceeds, 1.6m or falls below 0.2 metres with high salinity, if optimal conditions allow.
In February, 2019 the lake reached the high salinity trigger point for an opening. However at the time, council director Melissa Watkins said it would not artificially open the lake to the ocean, due to several risks associated with the action.
Council has confirmed that if the lake reaches 1.6m, it will again assess the conditions at the lake and weigh up the risks against the benefits of opening it.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council last artificially opened Lake Cathie to the ocean on July 11 in 2018 after residents expressed their concerns about the water level impact on surrounding properties.
At the time, the lake's water level had risen beyond the 1.6m trigger point.
In January this year, council director Melissa Watkins said the 2018 opening of Lake Cathie was undertaken in accordance with Clause 129, Division 25 of the State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 (ISEPP).
The opening did not require approval from Crown Lands as it was classified as an emergency.
Ms Watkins explained an emergency includes flooding, storm or erosion events, and council is authorised under Section 195 of the Local Government Act 1993, to enter and carry out works without the prior notification or consent of the land owner.
Lake Cathie resident and Saving Lake Cathie member Stewart Cooper said the past 18 months have been a very frustrating time for residents and businesses.
"It's been quite stressful with the lake going from extreme drought to filling with fresh water," he said.
"Salt water marine life have died and you rarely see any bird species on the lake.
"Cormorants, Australian darters and shearwaters have all disappeared and only occasionally do you see the odd pelican paddling.
"Now infrastructure, such as paths around the lake are flooding."
Mr Cooper said residents and businesses now have the added pressure and stress caused by Covid-19 restrictions.
In March, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council said it won't be able to access NSW Government funding to address the ailing waterway of Lake Cathie/Innes Lake until a new Coastal Management Plan is completed.
However, Local Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams said the NSW Government has plenty of funding available to support the waterway at Lake Cathie.
In response, council director Melissa Watkins said council has, and will continue to seek and apply for any available NSW Government funding relevant to works and actions council has resolved to undertake in respect to Lake Cathie, that the organisation is eligible to apply for.
For more information about the management of Lake Cathie, people can visit the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council website.
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