The Action Group was formed after the Lake Illawarra Authority (LIA) built a Southern Break wall which failed to achieve the permanent entrance promised by the LIA. Their public excuse was that it would take ten years before the performance of the Southern Break Wall would be known .

History had all ready shown that a Southern Break Wall  alone would not work. One hundred years earlier the first Southern Break Wall was attempted and had failed because north east winds create a swell that pushes the sand in to the entrance. This information was placed on a sign post on Windang island, at the entrance of Lake Illawarra, by the Lake Illawarra Authority.

The lake was now being blocked yearly, the smell was becoming unbearable, the lake-water more polluted.

Not only a health risk but also endangering the tourist industry which was suffering, loosing thousands of dollars per year.

The Lake Illawarra Authority then said that it did not have the money to provide a northern wall.

At a Windang community meeting it was decided that a action group involving all the residents from around Lake Illawarra was needed, to push for more funding for Lake Illawarra.

A community meeting was called, a chairperson, secretary, treasurer and committee were elected and the name Save Lake Illawarra Action Group was adopted. Save Lake Illawarra Action Group have become incorporated in May 2005. Memberships are $2 per person and can be attained at the public meetings held every second Monday of each month, except January ,starting 7 pm at Windang Bowling Club.

All residents that care about the future of Lake Illawarra, business owners, sporting groups etc.

Save Lake Illawarra Action Group Inc. is meeting every second Monday of the month (except January or if Monday falls on a public holiday) at 7pm in the Auditorium of Windang Bowling Club.
Everyone is welcome to attend these public meetings.

The Lake Illawarra Authority has been the government appointed custodian for Lake Illawarra, since 1984. After 14 years and $52 million the LIA had failed to improve the quality of the lake.

After residents watched the $5 million botched attempts to build a permanent entrance to Lake Illawarra, after band aid solutions to fix recurring problems had also failed or made matters worse, after Lake Illawarra entrance closed every year and the lake smelt rotten.

In 2001 Mr. Barry Hennessy on his own collected 4500 signatures on a petition to "Help The Lake Now". But, the LIA wanted to spend another $2 million on fore shore improvement, leaving the lake to stink and drive tourists and locals away.

Enough was enough, Lake Illawarra had to be saved. This is how Save Lake Illawarra Action Group started in 2001 and "Save Our Lake" is still going strong today. Save Lake Illawarra Action Group Inc. is officially incorporated as a non-profit organisation since 15 May 2005.

"The Big Dig", the "Save Our Lake Rally", the "Lake Debate".

Guest Speakers attending meetings and actions included: Mr. A. Lug (NSW Fisheries) on sea grasses, Prof. R. West (Wollongong Uni) on Fish stocks, Doug Prosser ( Chairperson Lake Illawarra Authority) on lake problems, Prof. Bruce Thom on pollution in lakes, Mr.R. Gabbe (Winton Propery Group) on Hayward's Bay Estate, Yallah.

Save Lake Illawarra Action Group Inc. has been involved in committees

• Bevans Island Back Channel Advisory Committee
• Floodplain Management Committee
• Management Plan Advisory Committee
• Judbooley Parade "Plan of Management"
• Lake Illawarra Entrance Review Panel

Group Activities included Cleanup Australia Day and Rise and Shine Wollongong Council.

The Save Lake Illawarra Action Group Inc. committee are elected at our General Meeting in August.