A COMPROMISE temporary solution to have tidal flow restored to Lake Kimberly over Easter has been reached between a group of Banora Point residents and the RTA.

According to resident Pat Carroll, the lake’s tidal gates were cut off a few months ago in a move that would have left the lake as a potentially stagnant body of fresh water.

A group of about 80 frustrated residents gathered lakeside for a protest meeting on Thursday where they heard a spokesperson from the RTA reading from a prepared statement that said the gates would be partially opened.

“They are tidal gates, they can’t just be partially opened,” Mrs Carroll said.

“The way I understand it is they will be opened for a period of time over Easter and in July when the works are scheduled to finish.”

The RTA stated in the release that: “As part of the upgrade the existing tidal gates are being replaced. Project approval required these replacement gates to be closed.”

The RTA and BUPA will work with council to partially open the gates as requested and will liaise with council and other government agencies to reach a long-term solution for the Lake Kimberley tidal gates.”

Mrs Carroll said there was a lot of opposition from residents who feared implications of the gates remaining closed.

“We got 80 people here on Thursday after just an hour of door-knocking,” she said

“All the canals in the area feed into this lake, including from behind the golf course.

“We don’t want it to be a holding pool full of the grass that grows on other lakes around the area, and mos- quitoes that can only be flushed out if there is a flood.”

There is also concern among residents that if the tidal gates remain permanently shut there may be an increased risk of flooding, causing an adverse effect on insurance rates.

“As soon as Easter is over I’ll be pursuing it further,” Mrs Carroll said.