Delighted Merimbula Lake oyster farmers have been given the news from the NSW Food Authority that harvesting can restart.
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Both Top Lake and the entrance area have been declared as clear for harvesting of oysters after the torrential rains over the weekend of December 6-7 that closed the lake areas.
Strict industry "triggers" - 30mm of rain in 48 hours or 50mm in seven days - were well and truly passed, with some areas in the catchment receiving 200mm. The flooding waters brought sediment down into the lake areas and oyster farmers have been waiting nervously to hear after water samples were sent for testing.
The pre-Christmas period is one of the busiest for the farmers who send oysters to the Sydney market and also sell locally.
The news was received on Thursday, December, 18 at 12.45 by the Merimbula Lake co-ordinator, Dominic Boyton, of Merimbula Gourmet Oysters.
The oyster farming family is ecstatic over the news and has urged everyone to "go to your local oyster farmers, buy local and stock up for Christmas".
At Pambula Lake oyster farmers were still waiting to hear the results of tests being carried out on Thursday.
Greg Carton, of Broadwater Oysters said: "They're doing a test today so that we can re-open this weekend. We're pretty confident we will reopen before Christmas but it 's given us a few grey hairs."
There has been pressure from oyster farmers all along the coast for the testing facilities, that had planned to closed on Friday, to remain open over the weekend to ensure farmers in clear areas get the OK to sell for the big Christmas market.