Lake Illawarra, an open and trained intermediate wave dominated barrier estuary or large coastal lagoon, is located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, situated about 100 kilometres south of Sydney, Australia.
Until 2014, the lake environment was administered by the Lake Illawarra Authority, a New South Wales statutory authority established pursuant to the Lake Illawarra Authority Act 1987 with the aim of transforming the degraded waters and foreshores of Lake Illawarra into an attractive recreational and tourist resource.
In 2014, the LIA was replaced by the Lake Illawarra Estuary Management Committee, including representatives from Wollongong and Shellharbour City Councils, as well as independent scientific advisors, community members, and local Aboriginal representatives.