Interim report on blue-green algal bloom in Mannus Lake

Published on 16 July 2019

Snowy Valleys Council has received an interim report into the identification of causes of the blue-green algal bloom in Mannus Lake from the University of Technology Sydney.

Council engaged the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), to undertake a 12 month research study of the algae bloom.

The study aims to determine the causes of cyanobacterial blooms in the lake and determine management strategies to stop or reduce future algal blooms.

Council’s Director of Assets and Infrastructure Matt Christensen said the interim report will be presented to Councilors at the July Council meeting. 

“While the final report will be provided at the end of 2019, it is expected that Council will be able to utilise the interim report to initiate a solution in advance of summer 2019/20,” Mr Christensen said.

“Future work will then be required to engineer the solution and advocate for funding with the Department of Primary Industries – Water”. 

A community meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 6 August when Associate Professor Simon Mitrovic from UTS will join Council staff to discuss the report and the next steps to developing a solution in more detail. 

Mr Christensen said that the report has also been published on Council’s website in advance of the July Council Meeting and the link emailed to the Mannus Lake user group.

“As part of Council’s commitment to keeping the community informed and involved in this important project we were pleased to make the interim report available to the downstream user group for their information,” Mr Christensen said.   

Anyone interested can visit Council’s website at www.svc.nsw.gov.au/UTS-Study to view the interim report.

More information on the August community meeting will be communicated in the coming weeks.