Maylands Lakes

This Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement (MERI) Plan supports the implementation of the Maylands Lakes Environmental Restoration Masterplan.

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement (MERI) Plan is a key action (No. AA2) of the Maylands Lakes Environmental Restoration Concept Report and supports implementation of the Masterplan.

MERI is an acronym for:

• Monitoring: monitoring routine data, tracking trends and drawing out insights.

• Evaluation: making evidence-based judgements about how effective an intervention has been in terms of specific criteria or values.

• Reporting: using a variety of reporting products to communicate key messages to different audiences.

• Improvement: using data and insights from monitoring and evaluation to adapt and change in response to what has been learned.

The purpose of the MERI Plan is to provide a framework for assessing how well the City is tracking towards improving and maintaining a healthy ecosystem at Maylands Lakes.

MERI is a continuous cycle of participation and communication. It promotes learning and adaptative management in response to progressive monitoring and evaluation, which enables improvement in program design and achievement of desired outcomes for the City and our community.

Read the MERI Plan

Recent water quality monitoring at Brickworks Lake has identified an increase in algal activity and phosphorus levels.

In response, the City has engaged its specialist lakes management contractor to undertake algaecide and Phoslock treatments at Brickworks Lake.

The treatments are scheduled to commence on Wednesday 2 September and are expected to take 2-3 days.

This treatment forms part of the Maylands Lakes Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement (MERI) Plan.

The City will continue to monitor water quality at Brickworks Lake and provide further updates as required.

The City is continuing works to improve water quality at Lake Brearley as part of the Maylands Lakes Environmental Restoration Masterplan.

Recent works include the installation of a temporary boom to help contain surface algae accumulating in sections of the lake.

On Monday 24 August, the City will undertake a targeted application of aluminium sulphate (alum) to assist with the treatment and settling of the existing algal bloom.

These works are being undertaken alongside the City’s broader program to improve the long-term health and water quality of the Maylands Lakes system.

The City has been notified of an issue with a Water Corporation wastewater asset that resulted in a discharge into Brickworks Lake.

Water Corporation has attended the site and resolved the issue, with further sampling being undertaken to monitor water quality.

As the water in Maylands Lakes is not used for recreational or drinking purposes, existing signage advises community members to avoid contact with the water.

For further information, please contact Water Corporation.

The City will undertake works at Lake Brearley on Tuesday 18 August to install a temporary floating silt curtain in an area where wind-driven algal material has been accumulating (see aerial map below for the location).

The silt curtain is a short-term measure designed to contain and concentrate the surface material, while the City investigates options for treating and removing the slicks.

The City will continue to monitor water quality across the Maylands Lakes system, while progressing broader works and improvement measures identified as part of the Masterplan.

At its Ordinary Meeting of 23 June 2026, Council endorsed the Maylands Lakes Landscape and Water Quality Plan, as a key action of Phase 1 implementation of the Maylands Lakes Restoration Masterplan.

This was in addition to Council authorising the CEO to undertake remedial and removal works to lakefront structures in accordance with recommendations of the plan.

The Plan provides a framework for landscape improvements and infrastructure renewal across the Maylands Lakes precinct, with a focus on improving water quality and ecological health while maintaining community amenity and access.

It was informed by a site audit, findings of the Landscape and Green Infrastructure Assessment, community feedback and advice from the City’s Scientific Advisory Panel.

The Plan identifies a range of staged landscape and infrastructure improvements designed to support water quality outcomes, enhance ecological function and improve the long-term resilience of the lakes.

The Plan will guide future funding applications, capital works planning and the staged delivery of improvements across the Maylands Lakes precinct.

Read Item 10.3.1 starting on Page 265 of the 23 June 2026 OCM minutes

View the Maylands Lakes Landscape and Water Quality Plan

As part of implementing the Maylands Lakes Environmental Restoration Masterplan, a combined dosing of an algaecide (Earthtec, a copper sulfate solution) and Phoslock (a manufactured clay product that binds phosphorus) was undertaken in March 2026.

Preliminary monitoring results have been received as part of a higher frequency water sampling protocol introduced to assess the impacts of the dosing on water quality and algal cell counts. The results of this monitoring are set out in the below memo.

Algaecide and Phoslock dosing results

The bathymetry survey is also available to view. This survey was primarily undertaken to provide baseline information to support the application of Phoslock in the lakes, noting some areas could not be surveyed in full due to the presence of thick floating weed, particularly in Lake Brearley.

Bathymetry survey

The City is aware of algal slicks affecting portions of Lakes Brearley and Bungana and an increase in midge activity.

Water quality sampling is being undertaken to assess conditions, including algal cell counts and water quality parameters, including blue-green algae, and phosphorous and nitrogen levels. The City's environmental consultant will review the results and provide technical advice on any recommended management actions.

The lakes are treated with a hybrid larvicide on a constant 14-day rotation during midge breeding cycles. Further to this, the lakes have been treated with a higher concentration as per our Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority off label permit.

The Maylands Lakes water system has experienced recurring algal blooms over many years as a result of its complex environmental conditions. Addressing these issues is the focus of the Maylands Lakes Environmental Restoration Masterplan, which recognises that ecological recovery will occur over time rather than immediately.

While significant restoration works are underway, it is recognised intermittent algal blooms may still occur during this period. The City will continue to monitor conditions closely and respond where appropriate. Monitoring results and technical advice will inform any immediate management actions.

As part of the City's adaptive management approach, monitoring data will be reviewed and incorporated into the Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement (MERI) Plan. This ensures restoration actions remain informed by the latest scientific evidence and that management approaches can be refined as the ecological response of the lakes is identified.

The City is aware of an algal slick affecting Lakes Bungana and Brearley, primarily at the southern and western portions of the site. The City is monitoring the situation and will undertake water quality testing to better understand the cause and determine any further action. We will continue to monitor the area and provide updates.

As part of implementation of the Maylands Lakes Restoration Masterplan, a combined dosing of an algaecide (Earthtec, a copper sulfate solution) and Phoslock (a manufactured clay product that binds phosphorus) was undertaken in March 2026.

Preliminary monitoring results have been received as part of a higher frequency water sampling protocol introduced to assess the impacts of the dosing on lake water quality and algal cell counts.

The results of this monitoring are set out in this report from Alluvium Consulting.