The review of drainage practices addresses the issue of when to artificially breach the Ocean Beach sandbar – a natural feature that separates the inlet from the Indian Ocean.

Department of Water program manager Chris Gunby said the review was required because the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) decided in 2007 that the opening could have significant environmental impacts.

There have been public concerns for years about the sandbar being artificially opened when inlet levels were lower than normal and the EPA recommended management agencies review opening practices.

The review, which involved considerable public participation, has broadened the range of factors to be considered.

Water Corporation Great Southern regional business manager David Hughes-Owen said that in the past the sandbar had been breached when the inlet reached a height of about one metre or when landowners advised that they are inconvenienced.

“Under the new management framework, the key factor will be protection of the inlet,” he said.