Lake Illawarra Bathymetric Survey
Throughout 2023 we conducted a bathymetric survey of Lake Illawarra to measure the depth of the water. Bathymetry involves trawling the entire lake with an echo sounder which sends a beam down and collects data as it bounces back. The below report outlines the findings. It will be used to inform future management options around the lake.
- Lake Illawarra Bathymetric Survey Report 2023
- Summary document: Tracking depth changes in Lake Illawarra
Wollongong City Council has prepared this document with financial assistance from the NSW Government through its Coastal Management Program. This document does not necessarily represent the opinions of the NSW Government or Department of Planning and Environment.
Community Engagement and Participation Strategy 2023
The Lake Illawarra Community Engagement and Participation Strategy was developed to plan and implement Key Actions of the Lake Illawarra Coastal Management Program (CMP).
The strategy recognises the vital importance of public engagement and participation in protecting and enhancing Lake Illawarra’s natural environment. It contains 13 actions designed to increase community knowledge, develop practical skills, and foster a deep commitment to the lake’s sustainable use and preservation. They are:
- Lake Illawarra Signage Development and Management Plan
- Lake Illawarra Online Hub
- Hotspot Information Kiosks
- Resourcing Compliance Officer with Educational Materials
- Annual Community Workshops
- Lake Illawarra: Walk and Talks
- Upskilling Existing Community Networks with Citizen Science
- Community Led First Nations Engagement
- Check in with CMP Implementation Group Members
- Developing New Community Partnerships
- University of Wollongong Interprofessional Education Activity Day
- Lake Illawarra Outdoor Cinema
- Lake Illawarra Tourism and Recreation Expo
The strategy was prepared with with financial assistance from the NSW Government through its Coastal Management Program
Luv the Lake Litter Prevention Program
Luv the Lake is a program delivered in partnership with Shellharbour City Council and funded through the EPA Council Litter Prevention grants program. These Council Litter grants assist local governments to deliver litter prevention projects like Luv the Lake that answer their community’s need, and protect and enhance the natural environment. These projects play an important role in achieving long-term goals for litter reduction in NSW. This project also addresses action WQ8 in the Lake Illawarra Coastal Management Program.
The aim of the project is to increase community pride, respect and ownership of Lake Illawarra and its surroundings; improve litter reduction and prevention around the lake foreshore; and deliver a multi-pronged approach that aligns with the EPA Litter Prevention Strategy.
For more information visit the Luv the Lake page on Shellharbour City Council's website.
Check this page regularly for updates and to see how you can get involved. If you'd like to help right now, check out Council's Rise & Shine Program and consider starting your own clean up group.
Report a tosser
Over 25,000 tonnes of litter is tossed each year in NSW - and sadly this is also a problem around Lake Illawarra.
If you see someone littering around our Lake, (or anywhere else, including littering from a vehicle) you can report it to the EPA.
You can also visit our Litter page to learn more about other local litter prevention programs.
NSW Government Community Consultation on Lake Illawarra Jetties
The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) has reviewed feedback from the community on priority upgrade work to Lake Illawarra’s public jetties.
They have announced that five jetties will undergo repair work to ensure they can be safely enjoyed by the local community. Major repairs are being made at Tuggerah Bay Jetty, Purry Burry Point Jetty, Koonawarra Bay Jetty, King Street Jetty and Old Merinda Wharf.
For more information please visit the DPIE's website.
Estuary Health and Water Quality Monitoring
As a part of action WQ7 in the Lake Illawarra Coastal Management Program, Wollongong City Council and Shellharbour City Council, in partnership with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, have been undertaking estuary health, recreational health and catchment water quality monitoring. Council collects and analyses a variety of data on the lake.
The information we collect helps us to understand the health and condition of Lake Illawarra so we can manage it effectively.
Find the latest reporting in the 'Estuary health and water quality monitoring' section above.
Bank Management Strategy for Lake Illawarra
See summary document: Foreshore and Bank Management Lake Illawarra
As a part of action FB1 in the Lake Illawarra Coastal Management Program, Wollongong City Council and Shellharbour City Council, in partnership with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, engaged a consultant to develop a Bank Management Strategy (BMS) for Lake Illawarra and its major tributaries and smaller creeks.
The aim of the BMS is to assess the current bank condition of the foreshore and identify and map effective, efficient, and consistent best management practice to treat foreshore erosion at an estuary scale. This will allow land managers to better manage cumulative impacts of erosion with evidence based defendable decision making.
See the Lake Illawarra Bank Management Strategy PDF, 17772.87 KB
Natural Area Restoration in the Lake Illawarra Catchment
As a part of action EV1 and EV2 in the Lake Illawarra Coastal Management Program, Wollongong City Council and Shellharbour City Council, in partnership with the NSW Government, have been undertaking vegetation restoration in the Lake Illawarra Catchment. In the past few years over 80 hectares of estuarine and riparian vegetation has been managed and protected from invasion by weed species.
In the Wollongong Local Government Area, we have ongoing works across the suburbs of Windang, Lake Heights and Berkeley covering seven lake side Reserves. We have been working hard to expand the program, and it now covers a further seven reserves within the suburbs of Primbee, Koonawarra and Kanahooka.
Of course, we must say a big thank you to all the dedicated Bushcare volunteers working to keep our natural areas beautiful! Find out more about volunteering by visiting our Bushcare page.