22.6 C
Byron Shire
February 13, 2025

Blue green algae alert status is amber on Lake Ainsworth

Latest News

Protesters opposing RA and police in Lismore

The NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) is currently attempting to disconnect water supply to nine government-owned houses in Lismore which have been providing shelter to homeless people since May 2024.

Other News

Valentine’s Day fresh from the heart at the farmers’ markets

Food is the language of love, and this Valentine’s Day, whisper sweet nothings with a delicious experience at the...

Over $500 million announced for women’s health

Richmond MP Justine Elliot has announced that the Albanese government is building Australia’s future and strengthening Medicare, with $573.3 million to deliver more choice, lower costs and better health care for women, including on the North Coast.

Will NSW Forestry Corporation be investigated for changing data on native logging? 

The NSW Forestry Corporation has retrospectively slashed timber yields by 28 per cent according to the NEFA calling into question the viability of NSW’s native logging forestry industry

Cash splashed at youth crime, but where’s the funding for prevention?

Federal funding of $3 million has been announced for a North Coast Crime Prevention Infrastructure Action Plan, which will see $1m go towards Tweed, Ballina, and Byron Shire councils for crime prevention measures.

Editorial – The uninformed state of NSW 

Asking a straightforward question of the NSW Labor government gets you conflicting non-responses. Yay. What fun!

Lismore remembers Simone Strobel on 20th anniversary of murder

About 50 people gathered in Lismore's Quad yesterday to remember the young visitor from Germany who lost her life in the city 20 years ago.

Lake Ainsworth Sport and Recreation Centre, Lennox Head. Photo David Lowe.

Blue green algae status in Lake Ainsworth currently is amber level.

While there are currently no restrictions on the recreational use of the Lake, users should obey all signage erected by Council.

Council will be monitoring blue green algae however, if slicks or scums should develop care should be taken to avoid these areas.

Blue green algae is photosynthetic bacteria that lives in the water, it produces toxins that can pose a risk to livestock and cause health issues for humans. The only way that you can tell if algae are harmful, is by taking a samply and getting it annalyised at a laboratory.

Sampling is undertaken by Council’s environmental health officers in agreement with NHMRC guidelines and are then analysed by a NATA accredited laboratory, these results are generally available within 24 hours. Algae alerts are then issued by Regional Algae Coordinating Committees who are responsible for local management of algae blooms.

Green, amber and red alerts

There are algae alerts consist of green, amber and red alerts. Green alert means that there are no restrictions on recreational activities and routine sampling will be in place. Amber alert mean that investigations into the causes and increased sampling will be in place. Care should also be taken to avoid any algae development is seen.

A Red alert means that local and health authorities should be contacted to assess the risks to recreational users and what appropriate measures should be taken to warn water users, at this point there is to be no recreational use.

Contact with blue green algae may cause skin and eye irritation, mild respiratory effects and hay fever like symptoms, if ingested it can cause gastro symptoms.

To learn more about blue green algae, vist: https://www.waternsw.com.au/water-services/water-quality/algae.


Support The Echo

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Lismore remembers Simone Strobel on 20th anniversary of murder

About 50 people gathered in Lismore's Quad yesterday to remember the young visitor from Germany who lost her life in the city 20 years ago.

Urgent transfer via Westpac chopper this morning

Around 1:30am this morning (Wednesday 12 February), the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked by NSW Ambulance on an urgent inter-hospital transfer from Grafton Hospital to Gold Coast University Hospital.

Over $500 million announced for women’s health

Richmond MP Justine Elliot has announced that the Albanese government is building Australia’s future and strengthening Medicare, with $573.3 million to deliver more choice, lower costs and better health care for women, including on the North Coast.

Celebrate International Women’s Day at the Lismore Women’s Festival

Northern Rivers Women and Children's Services Inc. (NORWACS) is proud to announce the Lismore Women's Festival, a vibrant and inclusive event celebrating women, will be held on  Saturday, 8 March  at the Quad in Lismore from  9am to 4pm.