Clean Curalo Project

Lake Curalo is a very important natural asset for Eden.

Well into the 1970s, Lake Curalo was deep enough for people to sail dinghies on. They went prawning, swimming and fished from small boats.

But gradually, the lake has filled up, becoming shallower and dirtier as the result of increased sedimentation erosion in stormwater channels and the entry of more and more rubbish, largely via the catchment.

If we are to preserve the lake as a healthy ecosystem for the enjoyment of Eden residents, visitors, and wildlife, controls to reduce sediment and rubbish are critical.

The Eden Recovery and Resilience Alliance (ERRA) is looking to Council to work with the community to implement measures to reduce sediment and rubbish entering Lake Curalo so we can preserve water depth, quality and marine life.

Sediment increases the bed level of the lake, reducing water depth and quality. Fine sediments are entering Lake Curalo from a range of sources across the catchment including stormwater drains, stream bank erosion, roads/tracks, and urban development.

The Lake Curalo Estuary Processes Study 2002 estimated the sediment yield from the lake’s catchment to be 11 tonnes per square km per year, or approx. 30 truckloads of sediment per year flowing into the lake.

This is at the upper end of sediment yield estimates for South Coast estuaries, highlighting the need to closely monitor and manage erosion in the catchment.

Our observations are that rubbish is also entering the lake from stormwater and streams.

The community is seeking greater certainty about practical steps it and Council can take to improve this situation.