Lake Illawarra is a regional icon, playing an important role in the life of the people living in the Wollongong-Shellharbour region. Humans have significantly impacted the lake and its surrounding catchment, particularly since the arrival of Europeans some 200 years ago. In that time, the catchment has been largely deforested, with forest replaced by housing, agricultural and industrial development. Infrastructure related to this development has altered the hydrology of the catchment and increased sediment transport into the Lake. The rapid growth in population around the lake foreshore has resulted in dramatic changes in the vegetation, and led to the construction of seawalls, bridges, and tourism amenities. The increasing population in the post-World War II era also contributed to increasing inputs of sewage and other wastes to the Lake, resulting in a range of pollution problems including algal blooms and accumulations of trace metals. By the late 1970s, Lake Illawarra was a highly modified ecosystem, requiring urgent action to reverse the deteriorating environmental condition.
In the late 1980s, the NSW State Government recognised that the management systems then in place were not effective, and established the Lake Illawarra Authority (LIA) to take over the major role in management of the Lake. Since that time, the LIA has initiated a range of activities including foreshore improvements, entrance works, and development of a Management Plan for the Lake with an associated program of investigations of various ecological and socio-economic issues, much of which was carried out by staff and students from the University of Wollongong.
A review of completed work was facilitated by the organization of a forum on ‘Science and Management of Lake Illawarra’ at the University of Wollongong in November, 2003. This highly successful forum included presentations on almost all aspects of the Lake’s ecology and related studies in the catchment, providing for the first time a comprehensive overview of current knowledge. The information presented enabled those participating to gain an appreciation of what has been achieved, and also to identify areas requiring further research. At that time, a southern breakwater had recently been completed as part of a program aimed at improving the efficiency of the entrance channel. Since then, a northern entrance breakwater has been completed. The impacts of the new entrance channel are under current investigation. These activities along with assessments of the likely impacts of enhanced climate change on the Lake and its catchment are important for future Lake management. Research on economic and social issues has also been undertaken, and there is a need for strategic development of research priorities.
To address these challenges, the GeoQuEST Research Centre of the University of Wollongong and the Lake Illawarra Authority are jointly organising another symposium on Lake Illawarra, to be held on 3-4 December 2009. This meeting will bring together as many researchers as possible who have worked/are working on the Lake to review the results of research activities. The aim is to develop a review of all the information available on the Lake, especially work completed since the 2003 symposium, and to assess the linkages between research activities and the management of the Lake. There will also be an opportunity to determine the research priorities for the future, by contributing to finalisation of the Lake Illawarra Authority Research Plan.
The Symposium will consist of a number of overview presentations, plus papers on recent specific research activities. There will also be a set of workshops on key issues relating to the Lake, and a panel discussion on the implications of current knowledge for the Lake’s management, and on prioritising future research needs.
Arrangements have been made with the Editors of Wetlands (Australia) for publication of peer-reviewed papers presented. Opportunities will also be available for poster presentations. Students are welcome to attend. A modest registration fee will be charged to cover the costs of running the meeting. A program will be developed and circulated later in 2009. We hope that you will be able to participate. Please pass this notice to anyone you think would be interested.
