Community drop-in sessions are planned for late March where locals and visitors will be asked to contribute to the project through providing their thoughts on proposed outcomes and any knowledge they have of the Cuttagee Lake, Nelsons and Middle Lagoon environments.

This is the second stage of community consultation, with results from last year’s survey indicating concern about water quality and the current condition of the catchment and estuary foreshore areas.

Coastal management officer Kyran Crane said council is keen to hear from anyone with useful information about environmental issues in the catchments, estuaries or foreshores.

“The aim of these assessments is to target environmental issues within the estuary and catchment and to suggest targeted actions to remediate these issues,” he said. 

“These Catchment Management Plans will then be used to guide the management of each estuary and catchment and individual projects will be rolled out as funding permits.”

The Nelsons Lagoon and Middle Lagoon drop-in session will be held on Wednesday, March 30 at Tanja Hall from 1pm to 7pm.

The Cuttagee Lake drop-in session will be held on Thursday, March 31 at the Bermagui library from 4pm to 8pm.

Council and OEH officers will be present on the day as well as the project consultants to answer questions and seek feedback.

Bookings are not required for these sessions, simply turn up in the time slots mentioned.

The Rapid Catchment Assessment project is a joint initiative of Bega Valley Shire Council, the Office of Environment and Heritage and Elgin Associates.