Lake Illawarra
Page: 1069
Ms SALIBA (Illawarra) [4.49 p.m.]: I have previously spoken about Lake Illawarra in this place and I will now give the House an update on its condition. In 1999 the State Government made a commitment to fund a permanent entrance to the lake. At that stage, the project was estimated to cost $4 million and work began on a permanent rock wall on the southern side of the lake. That work was completed almost two years ago at a final cost of $4.5 million. It was a terrific project and everything was working well. However, as honourable members know, New South Wales has been hit by the worst drought in 100 years.
As a result, the entrance of the lake closed up and no water could flow in from the sea. More than 22 other coastal waterways have experienced the same problem as a result of the drought. My community was very concerned about the state of the lake and formed the Save the Lake Illawarra Action Group. I worked very hard with the group and the Lake Illawarra Authority to ensure that the lake was always a priority of the State Government. Many people were distressed about the deterioration of the lake caused by the drought, the resultant blockage of the lake, water evaporation, and no water flowing into the lake from either the mountains or the sea. The lake was basically drying up.
It has been fantastic to see that the rainfall we have had over the past couple of weeks has filled the lake to capacity once again. The community has played little jokes, like erecting a "for sale" sign out on a small island that arose in the middle of the lake, suggesting that you could buy your own deserted island. It was great to see the rainfall and the sand flats become covered again. Last Friday at low tide the Lake Illawarra Authority dug out the lake's entrance, and since then the flow has been fantastic and the lake is looking very healthy.
I wish to place on record my thanks to the Lake Illawarra Authority. David Prosser, the chairman, Brian Dooley, the executive officer, and all the committee members of the authority have worked hard to ensure that Lake Illawarra is always protected. For example, during the recent sale of the Tallawarra power station, the Lake Illawarra Authority, through Doug Prosser, lobbied me to urge the State Government to ensure that the foreshore land at Tallawarra was returned to public ownership. Thanks to intense lobbying by the Lake Illawarra Authority, 10 hectares of land was returned to public ownership. I know that the authority has a strong commitment to the lake, and it is great to see that everything is going so well.
Unfortunately, some members of the community did not believe that the drought was the cause of the blockage of the lake; they believed it was caused by the work that had been carried out by the authority. Professor Bruce Thom, the Chairman of the Coastal Council of New South Wales, said at a public meeting that the blockage was caused by the drought. He explained that as the water dries up, it pushes the sand forward, and that this causes of blockage at the lake's entrance. Another expert in coastal waters also said the problem was caused by the drought. However, it was very difficult for people to accept that, because emotionally they saw our lake deteriorating and they believed it was because of the work carried out by the Lake Illawarra Authority. I will continue to work with the Lake Illawarra Authority to ensure that whatever work is needed to be done at the lake's entrance is carried out, so that we have the best lake in New South Wales. We call it the jewel in our crown—and it is the jewel in the crown of the Illawarra.
Miss BURTON (Kogarah—Parliamentary Secretary) [4.53 p.m.]: Over the years I have made many trips to the Illawarra, and I am aware of the community's strong attachment to Lake Illawarra. I take this opportunity to congratulate the honourable member for Illawarra on her hard work and dedication to environmental issues in her local area and her close association with local environmental groups. I am confident that the honourable member will ensure that the lake continues to flow.