Abandoned: The shipping container washed into Lake Illawarra during last year's floods.Picture: SYLVIA LIBER
Cool heads have prevailed in the row over a shipping container abandoned in Lake Illawarra after devastating floods last year.
The battered container washed into the lake from Gail Cady's property at Yallah in March 2011 and lodged at Creole Point near the mouth of the Maquarie Rivulet, where it is still visible.
Shellharbour City Council is now understood to have withdrawn its threat of court action against Ms Cady and agreed to share the cost of removing the container.
MORE: Row deepens over abandoned container
MORE: Excavator bogged in Lake Illawarra
The Lake Illawarra Authority and Wollongong City Council are also expected to chip in.
Ms Cady yesterday said the solution was an improvement.
An earlier quote obtained by Shellharbour council put the removal cost at $24,000.
Ms Cady said two quotes from commercial diving services put the cost at $16,000, meaning each party would pay a total of about $4000.
The Oak Flats shop owner hoped further tenders would bring the removal cost down even further.
"Everybody thinks I still shouldn't have to pay a thing," she said.
"It was a natural disaster. We had a flood.
"But [this solution] has got to be better. I've contacted a few of the commercial diving services and I'm just waiting for one more quote."
The shipping container, which washed in from the Wollongong local government area, has been a thorn in Shellharbour City Council's side ever since.
It is only accessible by water and may have to be cut up on site to be removed. The council copped criticism from outspoken councillor Peter Moran over its handling of the matter.
Yesterday, he said splitting the cost was an "excellent solution".
"It removes the problem, which is the outcome we should all be looking for, and . . . all of those who have some responsibility pay some of the cost," he said.
