With the water level sitting at 1.76m as of Tuesday, June 16, council's water quality and estuary coordinator, Prue Tucker, says the trigger level of 2.1m will likely be reached if further significant rainfall is received.

"We monitor the lake levels and weather forecast closely once the water level approaches the trigger for opening," Ms Tucker said.

"Based on historical patterns of opening, if the current average rainfall conditions continue over winter we may see an opening in the coming months."

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Ms Tucker said Smiths Lake was known as an Intermittently Closed and Open Lake or Lagoon (ICOLL).

"ICOLLs naturally open to the ocean in response to water levels in the lake and they close as a result of sand movement from waves, tides and wind," she said.

"Smiths Lake is opened manually to prevent minor flooding of property and roads in an environmentally sensitive way."

Real time data on Smiths Lake's water levels can be found here.

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Ms Tucker said with the trigger level so close it was a good idea for the community to stay up-to-date with what was happening at the lake.

"We're encouraging residents and visitors to monitor lake levels and our website for notice of the lake opening and make plans to remove your vessels from the lake so they are not stranded when it is opened," she said.

Smiths Lake was last opened in June 2018.

To find out more about how Smiths Lake is managed, click here.

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