Maylands Lakes

The Maylands Lakes Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) met for a second workshop on Wednesday 13 March to discuss key issues to be addressed, and make recommendations for options considered as part of the future scope of works (i.e. preparation of a masterplan).

The SAP considered the effectiveness of all initially suggested options, before narrowing these via a detailed analysis.

Overall considerations for the development of the future scope of works were discussed, with preparation of the scoping document to follow. This document will be presented at the April 30 Ordinary Council Meeting.

The newly convened Maylands Lakes Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) met for its first workshop on Thursday 22 February, where Associate Professor Mark Lund was unanimously elected SAP Chair.

The group began by reviewing the history, current state of knowledge and key issues affecting Maylands Lakes, before undertaking a site visit to Lake Brearley and Lake Bungana.

The remainder of the workshop focused on identifying potential drivers of the key issues, followed by a process to identify options to treat these issues.

A second workshop, scheduled for Wednesday 13 March, will look at narrowing these options via a more detailed analysis that will provide considerations for the development of future scope of works for Maylands Lakes.

The City has formed a Scientific Advisory Panel to develop and oversee a masterplan to address the environmental conditions at Maylands Lakes.

The Scientific Advisory Panel will provide independent, expert advice on the causes of water quality issues within Maylands Lakes. This advice will inform the scope for developing a Maylands Lakes Masterplan addressing environmental conditions at the site, which will be presented for endorsement at the April Ordinary Council Meeting.

Panel members will then oversee the development of the Maylands Lakes Masterplan.

To read more, visit the City’s News webpage.

You may have noticed a boat operating on Lake Brearley in recent weeks.

Please be aware the City is currently trialling some equipment to mechanically disturb the sediment within the Lake to help reduce midge breeding.

Similar equipment is currently being used overseas with favourable results.

The City will monitor the outcomes from these trials to determine the effectiveness and whether this control should be incorporated into the City’s Mosquito and Midge Management Plan.

The City of Bayswater is seeking nominations for one (1) community member to join the Maylands Lakes Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP).

The SAP will develop a comprehensive scope around the objectives within the Maylands Lakes Environmental Restoration report (OCM December 2023) and oversee the master planning process for Maylands Lakes.

The SAP will comprise:

• at least five experts in a range of relevant fields (including, but not limited to, Applied Ecology, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Environmental Biology and Hydrology), and
• two community members (of which one is from the Friends of Maylands Lakes).

While a relevant scientific background would be helpful, it is not necessarily required for this position. The City is looking for someone who can provide local knowledge, is a good communicator and can represent the community.

For more information and to nominate, click on the Nomination Form tab.

**The City wishes to thank the community for their interest. The nomination period for this position has now closed. Please continue to follow this page for SAP updates as they become available**

The treatment undertaken by the City before the Christmas and New Year period has resulted in a reduction of midge numbers.

The City has continued its midge treatment program in 2024, with Lake Brearley treated on 9 January.

The City will monitor and treat on a 14-day rotation during the midge breeding season.

The City will continue to monitor midge numbers.

The City of Bayswater midge treatment program will continue over the festive season.

Lake Brearley is treated with a hybrid larvicide on a constant 14-day rotation during the midge breeding cycles. This treatment forms our ongoing mosquito control of the lake.

The lake is then treated with a higher concentration as per our Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority off label permit. This is applied by a commercial pellet spreader mounted onto an all-terrain amphibious vehicle.

The lake will be treated on or as close to 22 December 2023 with the higher dosage to give sufficient coverage over the 10-day Christmas break - with the heavier dosing generally providing a 14-day reprieve.

The City will also continue to monitor the traps during the holiday period.

The City is pleased to advise the Maylands Lakes - Interim Water Quality Report 2022/23 is now available

This report conducts a preliminary review of the data collected between March 2022 and September 2023 with reference to the existing dataset (2019 onwards), and provides updates to the City to inform future lake monitoring and management practices.

Key findings of the report include:

• Since installation of the mixing units in 2021, Lake Bungana has had improved visibility. The lake appears to be responding well (with regard to general water quality and clarity) to being mixed for a prolonged period, with relatively stable monitoring results. This suggests that no additional management intervention is required at this time. However, a potential trend of reduced water clarity (from March 2022 onwards) should be closely monitored

• Conversely, Lake Brearley continues to show poor water clarity, higher nutrient concentrations and more intense algal blooms than Lake Bungana. Additional intervention may therefore be required to consistently achieve a similar amenity as Lake Bungana.

• The effectiveness of current management of the Maylands Lakes may be limited by the lake size, shape and depth, algal populations, nutrient levels and/or initial conditions at the time of mixer deployment.

The City regularly monitors water quality at Maylands Lakes and has recently provided water sampling results to the WA Health Department for analysis.

The Department has assessed the results and noted there are high levels of cyanobacteria present in Lake Brearley and Lake Bungana which are not suitable for activities where there is direct contact with the water or the risk of ingestion.

As the water in these lakes is not used for recreational or drinking purposes, there are no specific guidelines applicable; however, the cyanobacteria levels will need to be taken into consideration if the water is used for alternate purposes.

The City is working to improve water quality in these lakes as a priority. Signage exists around the perimeter of the lakes advising the community to avoid contact with the water. The fountain in Lake Brearley, which is connected to an automatic shut-off during windy conditions, has also been completely shut off.

On Tuesday 12 December 2023, Council voted to engage a specialist consultant who will assist the City in establishing a Scientific Advisory Panel to develop and oversee a masterplan to address the environmental conditions leading to the over-abundance of midge, cyanobacterial blooms and other water quality issues at Maylands Lakes.

The City acknowledges the negative impact the poor water quality, algal blooms and midge are having on residents near Maylands Lakes.

The City will investigate a water mixing trial that aims to improve the water quality of Lake Brearley while managing any associated risks.

Council has approved the allocation of funds in its 2023/24 Budget.

The City of Bayswater is working with the community to restore and enhance the vegetated area around Lake Bungana as part of water quality improvement works.

The project aims to:

• Improve water quality
• Provide habitat for native animals
• Improve the visual amenity of the Lake.

The area in question is classified as completely degraded and dominated by Melaleuca quinquenervia and Casuarina cunninghamiana. These species have been identified as requiring management by the Department of Biodiversity Conservations and attractions (DBCA). As part of the Maylands Lakes Restoration Plan the City is seeking to increase riparian vegetation along the lake shore to assist with nutrient stripping and create a more diverse habitat reflective of a naturally occurring environment to provide habitat for fauna. The invasive species have formed a root shelf preventing the establishment of riparian vegetation and turtle nesting at the site. Works are being undertaken in collaboration with the friends of Maylands Lakes who support the restoration.

UPDATE of RESTORATION WORK

The planting day has been finalised and it will be held on the 4th of August 2024. Treatment of the woody weeds has begun, and removal will take place in early July to make way for the new plants.