Tuggerah Lakes Care is a community group focused on the rehabilitation and care of the Tuggerah lakes, estuary and catchment system.

Tuggerah Lakes consist of three interconnecting lakes: Tuggerah Lake, Budgewoi Lake and Lake Munmorah situated on the Central Coast, NSW, 90 kms north of Sydney and form part of the Wyong Shire. These three lakes flow to the sea through a narrow channel at The Entrance, a popular tourist destination.

Over the years the lakes have struggled to remain in pristine condition partly due to the man-made interference such coal power Installations, urban development and other alterations that have seen sand shoal at The Entrance impacting natural water flows.

Our aim is to bring together our local community and obtain local, state and federal government support - and transparency of local Council consultation and action to maintain the health and ecology of the lakes, prevent and reduce flooding to the benefit of all.

Bring back the channel

Local groups call for action to protect thousands of flood affected households and businesses 

Several groups of concerned local residents and business frustrated with Central Coast Councils’ (CCC) current management of Tuggerah Lakes have launched a campaign ahead of Septembers council elections to “Bring back our channel”. 

Tuggerah Lakes Care (TLC) is one of the groups and represents the interests of over 10,000 local residents and business owners.

TLC has launched a video update on the flooding of the interconnected Budgewoi, Munmorah and Tuggerah lakes and how they can be better managed to reduce rising costs for the many thousands of affected residents and visitors – as well as save CCC money. 

The apolitical video features the messages of ‘bring back our channel” and ‘bring back Reg the dredge’.  

The video can be viewed here and here.

In short, dredging a funnel-shaped channel from Pelican Island west of The Entrance bridge narrowing to the sand berm has been suggested by multiple consultants’ reports as the single most effective solution to reduce the intensity, regularity and damage caused by floods.

Dr Angus Gordon OAM world renowned coastal engineer has said, “this issue is easy to solve and would save residents, businesses and council hundreds and thousands of dollars of man hours if enacted regularly”.   

We at TLC note that “Five floods in seven years have impacted every member of our community to varying degrees. Those residing near the lakeshore bear the brunt, facing property damage, emotional strain and soaring repair costs.  

“The entire community feels the ripple effects as insurance premiums rise across our postcodes due to these flood related issues. Adding to this burden is the damage to roads and infrastructure, prompting the Council to raise rates to cover repair costs and causing delays in normal operations.  Local businesses and clubs also miss out on tourism and the tourist dollars that trickle down into the community.

"It is crucial for all of us to work together to mitigate the damage caused by floods.”

The video outlines how future flooding can be better managed in order to reduce these costs. 

TLC acknowledges that there will always be flooding but note that it can be better managed by improved transparency and preparedness by both Council and residents.
  

See more here.