Tuggerah Lakes water quality: Council to push for funding solution

Drought, rotting weed, and an almost unbearable stench has engulfed Tuggerah Lakes and some are saying the political party that agrees to fund a solution will win local seats at the next election.

Piles of rotting wrack Friday at Budgewoi. Picture: AAP /Sue Graham

• Central Coast water restrictions will come earlier
• New Warnervale public school in doubt
• $350m private hospital will create hundreds of jobs

Shocking water quality in Tuggerah lake is set to become an election issue after Central Coast Council voted to push for multimillion-dollar funding to address the issue.

Cr Greg Best, who was behind the funding motion, said the entire lake system was “in serious peril” and described it as a “congealed bowl of vomit”.

“You only have to go to Toukley to small the stench,” he said.

John LeMaire and Greg Best are calling for action on water quality in the Tuggerah Lakes system.

“It’s time for a whole of lake approach and we need some serious coin to do it,” he said.

A number of community members addressed councillors about the state of the waterway.

Buff Point resident John Le Maire said water quality at Budgewoi Lake near his home was “putrid” with rotting weed creating black sludge around the lake edge.

Mr LeMaire said there was no circulation in the lake system to flush out poor water quality and that people could not swim in it and were being driven away by the smell.

Aerial photo of Tuggerah Lakes

“The water quality in Budgewoi Lake is putrid,” Mr LeMaire said.

“I defy you to come to Edwater Park and see for yourself — it’s disgraceful,” he said.

“The trickle that is coming through The Entrance Channel isn’t helping — we need to fix this as quickly as possible”

Weed on foreshore of Canton beach, North Tuggerah Lake.

The Entrance Boat shed co-owner Mark Cummings told councillors he was “appalled” by the state of the lakes and said dredging of The Entrance was not solving the problems.

He said the channel was so choked with sand that boats were always getting stuck.

Dredge at work at The Entrance Channel. Picture: AAP / Troy Snook.

Mr Cummings said there had been eight months of rotting weed with almost no water flow to help flush it.

“People are telling me they won’t be coming back due the poor fishing,” he said.

Cr Bruce McLachlan said as a lifetime resident he had never seen the sand build up that was now choking The Entrance Channel.

He said water quality was being adversely affected by urbanisation and drought.

“Tuggerah Lakes is a man-made problem that will require a man-made solution,” he said.

Cr McLachaln said the lead up to the election was the perfect time to push for funding to address the entire lakes system.

“Whichever side puts their hand up to fix the lakes will win the election,” he said.