The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment has fined council $1500 for the breach of National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.

After the mass fish death at the lake in May 2020, the dead fish were cleaned up which led to council's staff members inadvertently disturbing artifacts.

"Following the incident, the council immediately engaged Aboriginal cultural expertise to assess the impact of its works and arranged an investigation into the circumstances that lead to the harm," a DPIE spokeswoman said.

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"DPIE inspected the site with an Aboriginal Elder and concluded that Aboriginal objects had been harmed as a result of a clean-up of dead fish on the lake shore by council.

"The Aboriginal objects were stone artifacts located on the lake bed and shore that were disturbed by the works."

DPIE has not applied any enforceable undertakings to council but acknowledged council had voluntarily agreed to work with the city's Aboriginal community on management arrangements for the lake.

In August last year, council invited members of the Aboriginal Land Council to join the Lake Wyangan Management committee.

Council's sustainable development director Phil Harding said an Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit was being sought for the area.

"Griffith City Council is currently working through the legislated process that must be followed to obtain an Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit over the area on the eastern side of north Lake Wyangan where the track was graded," Mr Harding said.

"The application has been lodged with Heritage NSW and it is anticipated that the permit will advise on the remediation process and confirm or amend the work methodology identified in the application.

"This information will provide guidance for any future activities in this area."

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