But a Bega Valley Shire Council spokesperson said the council’s Environmental Services section advises that Wallaga Lake is currently about 15cm from the opening trigger.

Local residents have expressed concern that the low-lying causeway roadway leading to the Wallaga Lake bridge is being eroded and needs attention.

National Parks meanwhile is now monitoring the trigger point for Corunna Lake, which is when the roadway just past Tilba Valley Winery gets flooded.

Further down the coast, the Bega River at Mogareeka is some 30cm below the opening trigger.

The Bega council spokesperson said the long period of little or no rain has combined with conducive ocean conditions to keep estuaries along the Far South Coast closed.

This is in stark contrast to the relatively wet period the Shire experienced from 2010 to 2015 which saw most local estuaries open for extended periods.

Balancing the concerns of residents and needs of the environment, council staff are constantly monitoring lake levels in order to prepare logistics should estuary openings be required, the spokesperson said.

In December 2016, Bega Council adopted Entrance Management Policies for each of that Shire’s estuaries that require occasional artificial opening.

“These policies set out the conditions required for an opening to take place including the set opening ‘trigger’ and have the approval of a number of State Government agencies with numerous environmental approvals.

More information is available via the Environment and Health section on the Bega Council’s website.