NSW government to fund dredging of Wallis Lake
by Jeni Bone on 28 Dec 2011
Wallis Lake oyster leases SW
The NSW Government plans to commence dredging of Wallis Lake in the New Year in what Myall Lakes MP, Stephen Bromhead has termed 'a great Christmas present for the residents of Forster-Tuncurry and the many visitors to the area'.
'The dredging is critical for the oyster industry and also for the boating industry which is so important to tourism and the Forster-Tuncurry community,' Bromhead said.
Wallis Lake is the largest Sydney Rock Oyster nursery in Australia and the dredging of Wallis Lake is critical for the oyster and boating industries.
Oyster growers have long been concerned at the condition of many of the leases in the lake and the threat to oyster production. Not only is the cost of dredging 'significant' but without that dredging there has been no point in oyster farmers clearing their own leases, as they would quickly infill with sand.
'The main harvest area in Wallis Lake and the lower catchment areas of the lake are in crisis,' Oyster Growers representative Anthony Sciacca said.
Bromhead will meet with the Crown Lands Department, Great Lakes Council, oyster growers and boaters in the New Year and from this meeting the necessary resources will be put in place.
'I couldn’t be happier. It is great news and a great reward for all the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes by all the stakeholders,' he said
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