Calls are growing to reopen a man-made Upper Hunter waterway to recreational users after it was closed due to the presence of deadly brain-eating amoeba.
AGL is continuing to monitor Lake Liddell for the rare organism.
The lake was built in the late 1960s to store industrial water for the power station. It also supports the operation of Bayswater power station.
It remained a drawcard for boaters and fishers until it was closed in 2016 following the discovery of Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba that is commonly found in warm freshwater bodies.
The single-celled organism can cause a severe brain infection if water containing the amoeba enters the nose while swimming.
Initial symptoms include headache, fever and nausea, but usually progress to severe seizures and death.
Angler Andrew Hestelow, who is among those lobbying for the lake to be reopened to recreational users, recently wrote to NSW Health Minister Ryan Park and AGL to water testing results from the lake for the past 10 years.
Mr Park's office referred Mr Hestelow to the office of Environment Minister Penny Sharpe.
Similarly, the Newcastle Herald's inquiries to the departments of health, environment and the EPA were deflected between departments.
Mr Hestelow said his Facebook page had been inundated with messages from those who wanted the lake to be reopened.
"It's been an extraordinary response; I won't be surprised if this becomes a state election issue in the Upper Hunter," he said.
"People have been sending me photos from when they used to go there for picnics and catch fish all day
"The whole thing about closing the lake was absurd; it didn't have to happen. Other power plants in other parts of the country have managed to deal with this issue effectively.
Water is pumped into the lake from the Hunter River and planned releases from Glenbawn Dam, in accordance with water allocation licences issued by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Water is not discharged from the Lake during normal operations. Releases occur only during extreme rainfall events in accordance with EPA licence discharge conditions.
An AGL spokesman said continuing water monitoring results would inform whether the lake could be reopened for recreational uses in the future.
"Water sampling is required over several seasons to ensure thorough understanding of the lake's condition," he said.
"The lake also remains an essential element of Bayswater power station operations until targeted closure of the power station by the end of 2033.
"AGL recognises the lake is important water infrastructure for the Upper Hunter and believes it will be an important component to the establishment of the planned Hunter Energy Hub at the site."
The lake and power station site remain under a contamination audit as part of a state-significant development application for the site's demolition and rehabilitation. This requires AGL to conduct further investigations of the lake.
