Wollongong Liberal councillor Bede Crasnich has called on the NSW government to provide short-term funding for the future management of Lake Illawarra, in the hope of easing pressure on local councils that now face paying the bill.
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Moves to abolish the long-standing Lake Illawarra Authority (LIA), replacing it with an estuary management committee, were announced last Saturday by the O'Farrell government.
The change would put the lake's future in the hands of Wollongong and Shellharbour councils - a move welcomed by Cr Crasnich - but he believes the government should provide initial financial support.
"The councils won't struggle to find the funds but they will find it difficult to fit it into their budgets; they will have to think about their spending in other areas," he said.
"The concern is how the councils pay ... I think if the state government gave some initial help, maybe within the first 12 months to two years, it would give the councils time to make that transition."
Cr Crasnich said he would be lobbying the government for some form of funding assistance but did not want to put a dollar figure on the request.
The LIA was established in 1988 with the aim of transforming the degraded waters and foreshore into an attractive recreational and tourist spot.
But the state government ordered a review of the authority last year, handing down a final report in April.
Cr Crasnich supports his party's decision to abolish the authority, noting the plan had been well-received by many residents who were keen to have more direct involvement in the lake's upkeep.
"Over the last few years, the authority has been out of touch with the community and the feedback from residents is that they don't feel it's doing its job as well as it used to; the [new committee] could provide more regional control and be more transparent," Cr Crasnich said.
Meantime, Shellharbour MP Anna Watson has called on the councils to block any discussion with the government until community consultation about the lake's future is held.
"The NSW government has treated this whole review process in a shocking fashion," she said.
"The report was delayed [until] its release last [week]; and now, in proposing this fundamental change, the NSW government wants to simply force its recommendations down our throats, without any further consultation with the community."
She said she was concerned the councils would be "stitched up" with extra responsibility for the lake's management without the financial resources to cope.
