The future of the Lake Illawarra Authority remains in limbo as stakeholders anxiously await the findings of a NSW government review into the independent body.
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Last year, the Parliamentary Secretary for Natural Resources, Troy Grant, said the review was expected to be completed by the end of January 2013 and a report would be presented to Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner.
But a spokesman for Mr Stoner said the report and recommendations from the review had not yet been submitted.
Shellharbour MP Anna Watson said yesterday she had heard speculation that the report would recommend the abolition of the Lake Illawarra Authority.
Ms Watson said she had also heard speculation that the report would recommend that responsibility for the lake be transferred to Wollongong City Council.
"The report should be subject to further community consultation prior to the NSW government making any final decisions on the future management of Lake Illawarra," Ms Watson said.
Meantime, the NSW government has announced that the Marine Parks Authority will be replaced by two new advisory bodies: the Marine Estate Management Authority and the Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel.
As part of the reforms there will be an amnesty allowing recreational fishing from ocean beaches in sanctuary zones with the exception of sites identified for the protection of threatened species.
All other recreational fishing restrictions including bag and size limits will apply.
The "expert knowledge panel" will undertake a six-month assessment of recreational fishing access to these areas.
