More information about lake openings

On this page you'll find common concerns and responses relating to lake openings.

My local lake, lagoon or creek has a very low or very high water level and Council needs to open it

We will open a lake, creek or estuary that has closed if the water level approaches or is predicted to approach the “trigger level”. These trigger levels have been determined by Council, Department of Primary Industries and National Parks and we will not typically open a water body below these levels:

• Lake entrance opening trigger levels.

There is an unpleasant odour coming from my local creek/lake and I have concerns about the water quality

Algal blooms are typically responsible for the unpleasant odours that can come from lakes and creeks. These occur naturally and are not a sign of pollution or poor health.

We carry out regular water quality testing of our major estuaries and water bodies. Any potentially dangerous algal blooms are identified through this testing and dealt with. If there is a health concern, we will act accordingly and place signage to notify the community.

• Find out more about our water quality testing

We are sometimes asked to open a water body to the ocean in order to “flush it out”. This is environmentally unsafe practice and can result in negative impacts such as fish kills. Artificially opened water bodies - without the conditions present to naturally open them - will naturally close quickly and very little ocean water is able to enter. Water can also drain out of the water body and often leave exposed mud and sand that will worsen the smell.

There are changes in vegetation surrounding my local coastal lakes and lagoons

Lakes and lagoons are diverse and adaptive environments. A shift in the vegetation including the loss of plants and change in vegetation types in lakes, lagoon and estuary environments is common and a natural occurrence. A shift in plant communities occurs in response to periods of high or low rainfall.

The lake/lagoon/creek has been closed and I’m not sure if it’s safe for swimming, recreation or fishing

A closed coastal lake or lagoon is not unsafe, but may be less desirable to swim in. It is best to avoid swimming immediately after periods of high rainfall, as increased runoff can wash undesirable pollutants into the water. It is best to apply common sense here; if the water doesn't look clear, or has visible debris or algae, you may wish to avoid it.

Coastal lakes, lagoons, and creeks that close, typically support a unique range of plants and animals that have adapted to those conditions and thrive in them. For example, fish and prawns have adapted to survive for years in lakes that have closed to the sea. Some fish do need to migrate to the sea to lay eggs, but others reproduce in the closed water body. Fish can also migrate from other estuaries to restore stocks, even if the lake is only open for a short period of time.

Some of the most productive estuaries for commercial fishing are those that are closed for long periods. These are often more productive than the permanently open estuaries.

More information