MORE than 70 people attended a recent public meeting to discuss the future of the Korora Lagoons, with four options presented to the public.

Option A is to fill in all the lagoons and restore the natural water flow.

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Option B is to retain one lagoon and restore the original flow.

Option C is to remediate all lagoons and option D is to do nothing.

The advantages and disadvantages and costs of each option were outlined.

Option D initially has a zero dollar cost but, over time, could have significant ecological costs leading to one of the other options having to be considered anyway.

Option A would remove the existing weed and stagnation problems, but, without mitigation of pollution upstream, there would be faster and more concentrated transfer of pollutants into the estuary.

Option B would include water flow but take time for approvals and result in some habitat loss and fish removal.

Option C, if conducted well, would result in positive outcomes but will take time and have significant ongoing costs compared to the former two options, despite being the cheapest option over the first ten years.

According to locals present, at the culmination of the meeting a show of hands for support of options was undertaken, with meeting participants voting unanimously for Option C – to remediate all lagoons.

City of Coffs Harbour Councillor Jonathan Cassell, who attended the meeting, said, “I came to listen to the community’s concerns and to hear directly from Eco Logical Australia who conducted the ecological assessment.

“The issues raised across all four options demonstrate how complex remediation of this area will be but the community made their preference for option C crystal clear.

“As a Councillor, I am still considering all the factors involved especially since option A is what has been recommended by the environmental consultants.”

Submissions can be lodged on the City of Coffs Harbour’s ‘Have Your Say’ website until October 6.

By Andrew VIVIAN