Lake Macquarie City Council has started work on its Coastal Management Program which will assess the city's beaches, lake and Swansea Channel.
The five-stage Coastal Management Program is a new requirement for all coastal councils in NSW and aims to create consistent principles of ecologically sustainable development for the state's social, economic and cultural wellbeing.
It is the same program NSW Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock recently directed City of Newcastle to expedite and and submit by June 30.
However, that decision was made due to the ongoing erosion concerns at Stockton beach. Lake Maquarie council has until December, 2021, to submit its CMP.
The council's manager environmental systems, Tim Browne, said the CMP would replace the current Coastal Zone Management Plan adopted in 2015.
"We're looking to identify new and innovative ways to improve the health of our lake, beaches and coastline," he said. "These and existing methods need to be weighed against the importance of maintaining community access and recreation in these areas."
Development of the Coastal Management Program involves five stages: identify scope; determine risks, vulnerabilities and opportunities; identify and evaluate options; prepare, finalise and adopt; and implement, monitor and evaluate.
Mr Browne said the first stage would be completed through to June.
"As part of this, we're seeking community feedback about coastal management priorities, and suggestions relating to Lake Mac's waterways, their use and conservation," he said.
People can provide feedback via an online ideas wall and interactive map at shape.lakemac.com.au.
Mr Browne said various face-to-face community engagement activities would be rolled out across the city in coming months to allow for community involvement in the development of the scoping study.
We're looking to identify new and innovative ways to improve the health of our lake, beaches and coastline.
Tim Browne, manager environmental systems.
