The Lake Illawarra Authority (LIA) will be abolished and replaced with an "estuary management committee", the NSW government has announced.
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Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner said the government had decided to adopt the recommendation of a review into management for the waterway.
He said the review had concluded that the LIA had met its objectives under the Lake Illawarra Authority Act.
"The review recommends repealing the Act and creating an estuary management committee to manage the lake into the future," Mr Stoner said.
"The estuary management program devolves the responsibility of the lake to local councils and their stakeholders and gives them a more direct role in its management.
"This will effectively return management of the lake to Wollongong and Shellharbour councils and the community."
The review considered three options: retaining the LIA, establishing the lake as a state park with a trust in place to manage it, or transferring responsibility to Wollongong and Shellharbour councils and NSW government departments.
The review recommended the third option, which would include the creation of an estuary management committee. This would see the lake's management come into line with other lakes in the state, including St Georges Basin, Lake Macquarie and Tuggerah Lakes.
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Retaining the LIA was ultimately dismissed due to, in part, funding and equity issues.
"An issue for this management model is the expectation of continued NSW government funding, both through direct LIA budget and also by the administrative and resourcing support provided to the LIA," the report said.
"In addition to the dedicated budget required to support the LIA, there is an issue of equity for the NSW government as other estuaries are not provided with these additional resources."
The review said that, since the LIA was formed 25 years ago, legislative framework for estuary management in NSW had changed considerably.
"There is now substantial overlap between the activities of the LIA and the role of local government [and other NSW agencies] in other comparable estuaries," it said.
"As a result, there is the potential for confusion over roles and responsibilities as well as a real and perceived duplication of resources and efforts."
The review was headed by Parliamentary Secretary for Natural Resources Troy Grant, who praised the work of the LIA, particularly chairman Doug Prosser's 23-year service .
"It is recognised that the LIA has achieved sound environmental results, increased the recreational function and appeal of the lake, and worked closely with Wollongong and Shellharbour city councils to form effective partnerships," Mr Grant said.