Hundreds of dead fish were found on the shoreline of Lake Conjola on Tuesday, leaving residents concerned about the latest dredging of the South Coast lake.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The dead mullet and whiting were found by residents near the Cunjurong Point boat ramp following the lake’s closure in recent weeks.
They speculated that dredging of excess sand, which cuts the lake off from the ocean, did not mimic the natural flow of the waterway.
Data states 40,000 cubic metres of sand comes in and 30,000 cubic metres goes out annually, leaving a surplus of 10,000 cubic metres.
The lake was dredged in early 2016, but has since closed to the ocean again.
Conjola Community Association publicity officer Kristen Bird said finding the dead fish was “sad”.
“It is another natural disaster because of the condition of the lake entrance,” she said. “It looks a bit third world."
She noted that a mass number of sea rays died in 2014 when the lake was cut off from the ocean, before being dredged.
“It is affecting the fish in the lake when the lake is closed, obviously.”
Ms Bird said the natural causeway of the lake needed to be “scoured” regularly.
“Because of various weather phenomenons, it has needed some assistance and I don’t think the assistance that has been given in recent times was correct,” she said.
“I think an ongoing scouring to help it find it’s natural causeway is the answer.
“The most recent dredging lasted about two summers, and it did give the lake a good flushing out, but it was never going to last because they went a way the lake doesn’t naturally flow. They dredged along the northern shoreline, but the lake flows more to the southern shoreline.”
Association vice president Dirk Trelor said dredging in 1999 lasted 13 years.
“Dredging needs to go with the natural channel,” he said.
“The key for the channel location is for it to be on the southern side so on the outgoing tide, it transports sand back out through the entrance.
“It is about monitoring it and doing something, rather than doing nothing. The council has to be more open to working with the natural flow of the lake.”
A Department of Primary Industries spokeswoman said the fish - mainly mullet - became stranded during the receding tide and an investigation by Fisheries and Shoalhaven City Council was under way.
“The mullet have attempted to leave the lake during high tide and larger sea conditions earlier in the week. Some of the fish have become stranded in smaller backwaters during the receding tide and have died,” the spokeswoman said.
“DPI Fisheries note that mullet undertake their annual spawning migration along the coast at this time of year.
“The department will continue to monitor the area over the coming days.”
