Maylands Lakes
The City of Bayswater is committed to improving the water quality at Maylands Lakes.
New dashboards are available below, offering detailed information on water quality monitoring, midge management and a project tracker for the preparation of the Maylands Lakes Environmental Restoration Masterplan. These dashboards will be updated as the City receives relevant data, providing you with up to date information.
Find out more by clicking the relevant button below.
Quarterly community forums are held to provide residents with updates on the Maylands Lakes Environmental Restoration Masterplan and other activities at Maylands Lakes.
KEEP UP TO DATE
More information about Maylands Lakes is available in the Frequently Asked Questions.
To stay up to date, check the News Feed below or register to follow this project at the top-right of this page.
The City of Bayswater is committed to improving the water quality at Maylands Lakes.
New dashboards are available below, offering detailed information on water quality monitoring, midge management and a project tracker for the preparation of the Maylands Lakes Environmental Restoration Masterplan. These dashboards will be updated as the City receives relevant data, providing you with up to date information.
Find out more by clicking the relevant button below.
Quarterly community forums are held to provide residents with updates on the Maylands Lakes Environmental Restoration Masterplan and other activities at Maylands Lakes.
KEEP UP TO DATE
More information about Maylands Lakes is available in the Frequently Asked Questions.
To stay up to date, check the News Feed below or register to follow this project at the top-right of this page.
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Additional Area for Revegetation
The below map highlights an additional area that has been added to the existing revegetation schedule. It consists of non-endemic Casuarina species and as in other locations, it is causing foreshore degradation. It is also preventing the germination and growth of other species.
A notification will be posted when major works are scheduled to commence, however smaller trees will start to be removed along with others around the Lakes prior to that time.
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Revegetation Works Plan
The City of Bayswater has prepared a revegetation plan to restore the bushland around Maylands Lakes over the next ten years. Non-endemic species have grown to become detrimental to the natural balance of the ecosystem within the region. Many years ago, during development of the Lakes, these were planted without the knowledge of their effects on the environment that we understand today. In order to rectify this, ongoing clearing of smaller introduced trees will occur around the entire area. Clearing of large stands of trees will take place as a staged process, as seen on the map, allowing the new vegetation to establish, providing habitat for the various species of fauna around the lakes and attract those that have not been present for many years due to the loss of natural habitat.
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Lake Brearley Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation works will begin at Lake Brearley in accordance with the Maylands Lakes Conservation Plan. This will restore and improve the vegetated area around the Lake as part of the water quality improvement works. The project aims to:
- Improve water quality.
- Provide habitat for native animals.
- Improve the visual amenity of the Lake.
Works will occur from May to June 2023 and will involve:
- Removing the non-endemic species Casuarina cunninghami, Melaleuca quinquenervia and Callistemon which are dominating the area and preventing the development of a fully functioning foreshore habitat.
- Modification of the bank to allow revegetation.
- Community planting day to install native endemic plant species.
During works a temporary fence will be in place to ensure community safety with pedestrian management.
Should you have any queries regarding the above, please contact the Manager Sustainability, Environment and Waste, Alex Devine, on 9272 0660
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Management of Cormorants at Lake Brearley to improve water quality
The City of Bayswater will be undertaking works to remove vegetation on the islands in Lake Brearley (indicated in red, on the attached map). Clearing will only occur where evidence of nesting has occurred the other islands will be monitored for activity. Contractors have been arranged to carry out the removal of the following species which have been identified as invasive by the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (DBCA):
• Casuarina cunninghamiana
• Schinus terebinthifolia
The islands are populated in the winter months by cormorants, which are contributing to water quality challenges within Lake Brearley. The birds are not utilising the site at present, thus allowing works to be undertaken. Following the removal of invasive vegetation, the islands will be revegetated with endemic species to promote biodiversity. This action is part of the City of Bayswater’s continuing efforts to mitigate water quality issues within the Lakes. The change in vegetation will result in the cormorant population moving to more appropriate areas away from the lake, and will ease the nutrient loading that they had previously added to the lake. Bird droppings will be removed from the islands before any vegetation is planted, which will also assist in reducing additional nutrients entering the lake. The works will be undertaken in February and should last approximately a week. Works will include the use of chainsaws and machinery, and will be undertaken during business hours.
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Lake Brearley Dredging Update
The City engaged GHD to provide a technical assessment of the dredging undertaken at Lake Brearley. GHD have provided their report to the City, and concluded the overall objectives of the program appear to have been substantially achieved, as follows:
• Completion of dredging in the identified priority area;
• More than half the available nutrients in the target area have been removed (an estimated 59% of total organic compounds, totalling approximately 17 tonnes); and
• Dredging was significantly more successful than the Lake Bungana dredging works, recovering approximately 187m3 vs 56m3 of dewatered silt.
It is anticipated the removal of nutrients via dredging will work in concert with the other long-term water quality initiatives (mechanical mixers and solar powered ultrasonic units) to progressively reduce eutrophication, algal blooms and midge populations over time. A copy of the full GHD report is available in the documents section.
The limestone from the dredging laydown pad is being reused to create paths in natural areas in the City. The first path has been completed at Maylands Samphire's recently and the remaining limestone will be removed in coming weeks to create a path in Lightning Swamp Bushland.
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Lake Bungana Revegetation Works
The City of Bayswater is working with the Friends of Maylands Lakes 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 successfully obtained grant funding to support the restoration.
A Community planting day will be held on June 25 and will begin the process of creating a biodiverse natural area. To get involved check the City's website https://www.bayswater.wa.gov.au/communityplantingdays
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Lake Brearley dredging completed
The eight-week dredging program has now been completed, and the contractor has demobilised from site. It is estimated that the contractor was able to dredge >90% of the target area. Given the operational uncertainties associated with the project, such as dredge access, anchor point locations and pumping distances, achieving that level of coverage is considered a good result. Based on the experience from dredging Lake Bungana, it could take approximately 18 months for the dredging in Lake Brearley to improve water quality and clarity.
Power has been reconnected to the mechanical mixer and the solar powered ultrasonics returned to optimal locations last week. Post-dredging sediment sampling will be undertaken to verify the effectiveness of the dredging program at removing the nutrient rich sediment. Fencing will be realigned this week to enable residents to access the path adjacent to Lake Brearley but keeping the sediment bags secure while they dry which is anticipated to take 4 - 6 weeks. Once the sediment is sufficiently dry the bags and limestone pad will be removed and the grass and reticulation reinstated. While the lake has been fenced off City officers have taken the opportunity to plant approximately 400 sedges along the limestone walls, adjacent to Tourer Court and at Hinkler Loop. This planting will contribute to improving biodiversity in the lake and nutrient removal. City officers will continue monitoring of the water quality and midge levels to assist in understanding the effectiveness of actions taken to date.
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Stage 2 of Lake Brearley dredging commenced
Following positive results on the amount of sediment being removed as well as the progress of dredging in Lake Brearley, the dredging contractor, Apex Envirocare has been instructed to complete the full 8 week dredging program. To date approximately 68% of the area targeted for dredging has been completed and the dredge will move to complete the north western section of the target area. The sediment is consolidating well in the two geopro bags so a second laydown pad will not be required. The dredging is due to be completed the week of 28th March 2022 and it is anticipated the sediment bags and laydown pad will be removed by early May 2022.
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Dredging commenced in Lake Brearley
In accordance with the Maylands Lakes water quality improvement plan, dredging of Lake Brearley commenced this week. The dredging is targeting the removal of nutrient rich sediment that has built up in the lake. The dredging program is scheduled to run for eight weeks.
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Dredging - Community Information session
A community information session will be held to brief residents on the upcoming partial dredging of Lake Brearley. The session will be held at Maylands Sports and Recreation Club on Monday 31st January at 6:30pm and will be presented by City officers and representatives from Apex Envirocare who are undertaking the dredging. Completion of the dredging is part of the Maylands Lakes restoration plan approved by Council in 2020 to improve water quality and reduce nuisance midge levels. The dredging will require the construction of two temporary laydown sites indicated in the image below by the red quadrants. Construction of the laydown site nearest Tranby Rd is scheduled to commence on 31 January 2022. The dredging will also require the temporary closure of the Lake Brearley footpath between Tranby Road and Tourer Court (highlighted in red in image below) to enable the installation and operation of dredge cable anchor points. Apologies in advance for any inconvenience caused. A copy of the presentation provided is available in the documents section.
Follow Project
Documents
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Community Forum Documents
- Forum report: Maylands Lakes Community Forum 5 September 2024 (592 KB) (pdf)
- Maylands Lakes Community Forum slides 5 September 2024 (3.6 MB) (pdf)
- Maylands Lakes Action List - 28 June 2024 (61 KB) (pdf)
- Forum Report - Maylands Lakes Community Forum 15 June 2024 (753 KB) (pdf)
- Maylands Lakes Community Forum slides 15 June 2024 (5.19 MB) (pptx)
- March 2021 - Maylands Lakes Community Information Session (23.8 MB) (pdf)
- Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) Documents
- City of Bayswater Ordinary Council Reports
- Masterplan documents
- Pumps and Filtration EOI
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Reports
- Oct 2022 - Maylands Lakes Conservation Plan 2022.pdf (3.19 MB) (pdf)
- July 2022 - Dredge closure report GHD (40.1 MB) (pdf)
- Jan 2022 - Maylands Lakes Dredging Community Information Session (1.29 MB) (pdf)
- Feb 2021 - Maylands Lakes Destratification 3D modelling report - GHD (2.64 MB) (pdf)
- Dec 2020 - Proposed Actions Maylands Lakes (14 KB) (docx)
- Sept 2020 - Maylands Lakes Management Options Assessment Report - GHD (6.71 MB) (pdf)
- Oct 2019 - Lake Bungana sediment sampling and assessment (3.47 MB) (pdf)
- Oct 2018 - Maylands Lakes Sediment Assessment (29.3 MB) (pdf)
- Aug 2016 - Maylands Lakes Stage 2 Management Options Report - Essential Environmental (4.24 MB) (pdf)
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Water Quality Reports
- 12622313_Maylands Lakes Quarterly Monitoring Report_2024-09.pdf (3.34 MB) (pdf)
- 12622313_Maylands Lakes Monthly Monitoring Report_2024-06.pdf (4.11 MB) (pdf)
- Maylands Lakes Monthly Monitoring Report May 2024.pdf (4.45 MB) (pdf)
- Maylands Lakes Monthly Monitoring Report April 2024 (2.91 MB) (pdf)
- 12622313_Maylands Lakes Monthly Monitoring Report March 2024.pdf (4.43 MB) (pdf)
- 12622313-LET_Maylands Lakes Monthly Monitoring Report February 2024.pdf (4.65 MB) (pdf)
- 12622313-LET_Maylands Lakes Monthly Monitoring Report January 2024.pdf (4.17 MB) (pdf)
- Dec 2023 - Maylands Lakes - Interim Results Report 2022/23 (12.8 MB) (pdf)
- Sept 2022 - Maylands Lakes - Summer 2020/21 to Winter 2022 Monitoring Report (3.16 MB) (pdf)
- Sept 2020 - Maylands Lakes - 2019-20 Monitoring Report (71.1 MB) (pdf)
- Letters to Community
Photos
Who's Listening
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Email mail@bayswater.wa.gov.au