Council adopts new approach to Maylands Lakes

At its April meeting, Council voted unanimously to support a range of new actions the City will take to address the environmental conditions at Maylands Lakes, including the development of the Maylands Lakes Environmental Restoration Masterplan.

City of Bayswater CEO Jeremy Edwards said the new approach takes onboard community feedback and aims to ensure the process is as open and transparent as possible.

“I appreciate there are a range of views on this topic and unfortunately there is no one solution to the issues residents living near Maylands Lakes are experiencing,” he said.

“I think what’s important is the City has committed to a pathway forward and is listening to and taking onboard feedback from the community.”

Following community feedback, the City will call for expressions of interest for the use of pumps and filtration as an immediate option to address the midge and water quality issues at Maylands Lakes.

Quarterly community forums will be held to provide residents with updates on the Maylands Lakes Environmental Restoration Masterplan and other activities at Maylands Lakes.

“I am confident these forums will build trust in the community, through open and transparent communication, and will help us work together on a solution to this complex issue,” Mr Edwards said.

Deputy Mayor Councillor Elli Petersen-Pik thanked the community for their involvement and feedback which was incorporated.

“Council endorsed the scope for the Maylands Lakes Environmental Restoration Masterplan. The scope was broadened to include the option to investigate mechanical pumping and filtration to significantly reduce nutrients at the lakes in an attempt to deal with the algal bloom and midge issues. Other options, including relevant case studies, will also be considered during the process,” he said.

Council has now authorised the CEO to call for public tenders for a consultant to prepare the Masterplan based on the endorsed scope.

“Council also voted to expand the Scientific Advisory Panel, in line with community feedback, to include a further expert with an engineering or environmental engineering background, with experience dealing with similar lakes environments,” Deputy Mayor Petersen-Pik said.

“The process undertaken by the Scientific Advisory Panel will be fully transparent with minutes from the panel’s meetings to be published on the City’s website and general discussions by the panel not considered confidential.”

It was also requested the CEO investigate if the City is eligible for funding under the Mining Rehabilitation Fund administered by the State Government.

Further information on the scope, Scientific Advisory Panel members and project updates can be found on the dedicated project page on Engage Bayswater: engage.bayswater.wa.gov.au/maylands-lakes