1 December 2011

Blue-green algae strikes at Weston Park East

| johnboy
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Despite a rather good flushing this week the National Capital Authority brings word that the first blue-green algae outbreak of summer has coincided with the first day of summer.

The blue-green algae levels and bacteria levels in Weston Park East are at the ‘High Alert Level’.

The water is closed to primary contact recreation as exposure to this level of blue-green algae and bacteria carries an increased risk of adverse health effects.

Primary contact recreation means recreation that involves whole-body water contact or submersion of the head. Examples include swimming, diving and windsurfing.

Secondary contact recreation (such as rowing, fishing, boating and canoeing) will still be permitted although persons engaged in secondary contact recreation should be careful to limit any water exposure

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NoImRight said :

KB1971 said :

I plonked the tinny in Lake Tuggers last weekend to test out my ne Xmas Pressie (a leccy outboard) & it was like driving through flouro paint. It was cool, hard to get off the boat though…………

Googong is looking good now. Although the reddies are inconsistent for reasons not apparent to me.

I will be at the gates at 7.45 tomorrow 😉

I believe the only plant that will tolerate the water there is the death-cap mushroom.

KB1971 said :

I plonked the tinny in Lake Tuggers last weekend to test out my ne Xmas Pressie (a leccy outboard) & it was like driving through flouro paint. It was cool, hard to get off the boat though…………

Googong is looking good now. Although the reddies are inconsistent for reasons not apparent to me.

I plonked the tinny in Lake Tuggers last weekend to test out my ne Xmas Pressie (a leccy outboard) & it was like driving through flouro paint. It was cool, hard to get off the boat though…………

dpm said :

Wow, this sort of news must be really sh#$ty for those involved with the recent triathlon post:
http://the-riotact.com/canberra-hosting-australian-triathlon-championships/60680
Another season of weekly updates to see what events will be cancelled, or changed into duathlons….

Is the lake ever going to be useable in a future summer?? 🙁

Also, I may be really stupid, but wouldn’t it be a lot more useful if they included a rudimentary map *with* these alerts showing which areas they are referring to? I mean, where does ‘Weston park east’ begin and end?? What area comprises the ‘West basin’??

Bad news: lake still screwed – worse than ever for this summer:
http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2222:5-january-2012&catid=76:lake-water-quality-updates-&Itemid=317

Good news: the update (above link) now has a map explaining what areas they are talking about!
Thanks NCA!
🙂

qbngeek said :

Keijidosha said :

removal of non-aquatic objects (trolleys and other junk) could happen. If the draining took place over Winter I doubt many people would be inconvenienced.

If they do this I reckon we should have a pool on how many cars and bodys (either with the cars or separate) they pull out of there.

Yes think of how many unsolved crimes, could be solved 🙂

Keijidosha said :

removal of non-aquatic objects (trolleys and other junk) could happen. If the draining took place over Winter I doubt many people would be inconvenienced.

If they do this I reckon we should have a pool on how many cars and bodys (either with the cars or separate) they pull out of there.

bitzermaloney3:14 pm 02 Dec 11

johnboy said :

much, much more.

But it will be federale money

I guess it’s now 2.5% less.

much, much more.

But it will be federale money

bitzermaloney1:55 pm 02 Dec 11

johnboy said :

Solarbees are just a trial, not a full rollout.

so does that mean we, the public, need to forkout even more for the usefull devices when the “successful” trial ends?

Solidarity said :

Release the dam, drain the lake, clean it and then dam it up again.

Is that possible?

Yep. I commented in one of the Solarbee threads that the best solution found at Lake Mulwala (a large lake on the Murray River) was to drain it, kill off the algae then let it fill again. Take the same action for LBG and at the same time Scriviner Dam could have remedial works carried out, and removal of non-aquatic objects (trolleys and other junk) could happen. If the draining took place over Winter I doubt many people would be inconvenienced.

Problem is that draining the lake is only treating the symptom, not the cause: too much nutrient entering the lake from upstream.

Release the dam, drain the lake, clean it and then dam it up again.

Is that possible?

Surely it’s time to accept that unless something significant is done to address the issue, the lake is going to be less and less available for recreational activities in the summer?

Solarbees are just a trial, not a full rollout.

bitzermaloney10:21 am 02 Dec 11

Those Solarbees are proving to be the best $350k the shire council has spent. Can I have my money back please?

Wow, this sort of news must be really sh#$ty for those involved with the recent triathlon post:
http://the-riotact.com/canberra-hosting-australian-triathlon-championships/60680
Another season of weekly updates to see what events will be cancelled, or changed into duathlons….

Is the lake ever going to be useable in a future summer?? 🙁

Also, I may be really stupid, but wouldn’t it be a lot more useful if they included a rudimentary map *with* these alerts showing which areas they are referring to? I mean, where does ‘Weston park east’ begin and end?? What area comprises the ‘West basin’??

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