Smiths Lake Boating Plan of Management

Smiths Lake is an intermittently closed or open lake or lagoon (ICOLL) located approximately 25km south of Forster on the NSW Mid North Coast.

The process of developing a Boating Plan for Smiths Lake commenced with a community consultation program that began in January 2003 via a media release and public notice aimed at advising the community of the planning process and identifying interested parties and stakeholders for inclusion on a mailing list. A discussion paper was then presented to members of the Smiths Lake Estuary Management Committee seeking input on values and issues via written submissions. From the submissions received, a draft boating plan was developed addressing the values and issues identified. The Draft Smiths Lake Boating Plan was subsequently distributed to stakeholders and displayed for public comment.

Boating Plans are designed to:

• Protect and sustain the recreational and environmental values of a waterway
• Ensure that boating practices maximise user safety, enjoyment, public safety and amenity
• Consider the needs of shore-based estuary users as well as boating-based activities
• Review shore-based boating-related facilities or infrastructure such as launching ramps
• Provide a framework for consultation

The key values and issues that arose from stakeholders’ submissions and which were addressed in the final boating plan included:

• Ability to pursue activities on the lake in a fair and equitable manner
• Adequacy of boating infrastructure
• Safety
• Amenity of foreshore residents
• Zoning

The NSW Maritime Authority is committed to promoting the sustainable and equitable use of NSW waterways for all users. The purpose of this boating plan is to provide a framework for the management and administration of boating activities on Smiths Lake and to establish more effective controls for boating and related activities where required.

Smiths Lake Boating Plan of Management

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