Cleanup of former Wallis Lakes oyster growing site

The NSW Government has cleaned up derelict structures and waste from a former oyster growing site at Tuncurry after the site was abandoned by a former leaseholder in 2014.

The site at Long Island contained a derelict shed and jetty, and had been littered with a large amount of dumped waste including old oyster farming machinery and equipment, tyres, metal, plastics, wood, drums, racks, and oyster shells. 

Crown Lands in the Department of Planning and Environment undertook a cleanup of the site to make it safer, protect the environment and improve riverside visual amenity.

A total of 60 tonnes of waste and old building materials were taken away by barge as part of the project.

Removal of the waste will enable Crown Lands to undertake further testing of the cleared land and determine what further remediation works are required, with the hope of eventually making the site available for oyster production once again.

Wallis Lake is one of NSW’s largest oyster industries supporting commercial fishers and attracting thousands of recreational users each year as part of a multi-million-dollar tourist industry.

Crown Lands Executive Director of Land and Asset Management Greg Sullivan said Wallis Lake’s waterways and catchment are prized for their natural beauty, environmental biodiversity and economic value for fishing, aquaculture and tourism, so maintaining the quality of its lands is important.

“Cleaning up this site by removing rubbish and dilapidated structures makes Long Island safer and helps protect the environment,” Mr Sullivan said.

“Land based oyster growing sites are in high demand so if this site can one day be restored for oyster farming activities it would be a good thing for the key catchment of Wallis Lake.”