Why Tallow Creek ICOLL can’t be opened right now

Published on 17 August 2021

High water levels in the Tallow Creek Intermittently Closed and Open Lake or Lagoon (ICOLL) near Suffolk Park are causing temporary nuisance flooding of some backyards and walkways adjacent to the creek - but the current dry weather conditions mean the ICOLL cannot be artificially opened.

“Byron Shire Council, alongside the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Arakwal Corporation and the Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries) understand that this flooding is worrying for some of the people affected,” Council’s Coast, Biodiversity & Sustainability Coordinator, Chloe Dowsett said.

“Unfortunately, the current dry conditions mean that scraping the berm of Tallow Creek ICOLL right now would likely result in a breakout and potentially cause a disastrous fish kill in this highly valued ecosystem.

“We know from previous experience and the fish kill event that happened in June 2019 that artificially opening an ICOLL with high water levels without a lot of rainfall is a bad idea.

“Tallow Creek ICOLL is a special purpose zone within the Cape Byron Marine Park and the entrance lies within the jointly-managed culturally and environmentally significant Arakwal National Park, home to threatened shorebirds and a diverse amount of marine species that remain within the ICOLL when it is closed to the ocean.

“The ideal time to scrape the sand bar and try to encourage the creek to open is when there is sufficient rain as this will lessen the potential risk and impacts of a fish kill,” Ms Dowsett said.

“All proposals to open the creek mouth need to be carefully planned and considered by Council in partnership with NPWS, the Arakwal Corporation and DPI Fisheries who are the managers and owners of the Tallow Creek entrance.  Any sand scraping at the berm would definitely not be supported during dry conditions when the possibility of a large fish kill event is high.

“After the 2019 fish kill all stakeholders agreed and Council resolved that there would be no attempt to open the Tallow Creek entrance unless there was a low risk of a fish kill, or a high risk of flooding, and that is certainly not the case at the moment,” Ms Dowsett said.

Council has been in touch with concerned members of the community in recent weeks about the colour, odour and quality of the creek water and is monitoring the impacts closely. Council advises people not to swim in Tallow Creek, as usual.

“We are continuing to monitor this situation, in partnership with NPWS, the Arakwal Corporation and DPI Fisheries and will keep residents informed,” Ms Dowsett said.

For media enquiries contact Annie Lewis, Media and Communications Coordinator, on 6626 7320.