Heavy penalties apply for members of the public who attempt to open Lake Cathie without approval.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council is committed to long-term planning for Lake Innes and Lake Cathie, working with NSW Government agencies while also having protocols in place to manage potential flooding and to minimise environmental impacts.
Attempting to open Lake Cathie through the lake’s entrance sand-berm is an offence under several pieces of Legislation.
Government agencies with responsibilities under this legislation will take action against persons found to be digging, scraping, excavating, dredging or moving sand in an attempt to open the lake’s entrance without authorisation, which is located on Crown land.
Maximum penalties of $110,00 for an individual or $200,000 for a corporation apply to digging up or disturbing soils on Crown Land, under the Crown Land Management Act 2016 and Regulations. Maximum penalties of $110,000 for an individual and $220,000 for a corporation apply to carrying out dredging work on water land without a permit, under the Fisheries Management Act 1994 and Regulations.