There are three new publications from Worksafe on OH&S for volunteers and community organisations.

Many in the East Gippsland community were dismayed to learn in July of an officially-sanctioned cull of Black Swans that had invaded lucerne paddocks adjacent to Macleod Morass near Bairnsdale.  It became clear that a factor in the invasion was the decline of the swan’s normal food sources in the lakes and wetlands.  This led to public questions being raised more generally about the current health and future prospects of the Gippsland Lakes.

Habitat Network East Gippsland (HNEG) responded to the concerns of member organizations by organizing a public forum to discuss the environmental and management problems facing the Lakes.  The forum was held on the evening of 19 November at the Bairnsdale Sporting and Convention Centre in Lucknow and was attended by over 230 people.

HNEG brought together a panel of experts comprising:  Prof Barry Hart (Monash University, aquatic chemistry, water quality management, ecological risk assessment), Prof John Beardall (Monash University, algal blooms and impacts of global change), Prof David Mitchell (Charles Sturt University, management of catchment and irrigation systems), Prof Max Finlayson (Charles Sturt University, wetland ecology and management) and Dr Peter Fisher (Central Queensland University, pharmaceuticals and water quality).

Each panel member gave a short address relating to water quality, ecology and management of the Lakes (Dr Fisher’s address was presented in his unavoidable absence). 

The Forum was then opened to questions from the floor and ended with a review of key recommendations for action.

In their presentations and in response to questions from the audience, the panel made the following comments:

• Algal blooms will be a recurrent problem.
• The toxicity of some algal blooms remains unclear.
• The Lakes are becoming more saline, and flushing from inflow is unlikely to remedy the problem.
• Sea-grass beds are seriously degraded, with potential impacts on overall biodiversity.
• Nutrient inflows from agriculture and fire-damaged areas are a major threat to water quality.
• The extent of natural wetlands and marshes adjoining the Lakes has been greatly reduced over the decades, and their effectiveness as a filtration system thereby diminished.
• Forest cover in the Lakes catchment is diminished by logging and fire, resulting in unacceptable levels of sediment and nutrient inflow.  Restoration of mature forest will take decades.
• The Lakes ecosystem is resilient to adverse impacts, but re-establishes stability at lower levels than in previous cycles, resulting in progressive degradation.
• The Lakes are a Ramsar site, but Australia currently is not meeting its obligations to update and maintain data on wetland sites under the international Ramsar Convention.
• The extent to which pharmaceuticals may be impacting on the Lakes ecosystem is unknown because of a lack of monitoring for such contaminants.
• Although a return to a healthy freshwater Lakes ecosystem is theoretically still possible, the track record of government and environmental management agencies suggests this is unlikely to occur.
• Global warming is only likely to exacerbate problems in the long term.

The Forum concluded by nominating key points of concern and strategies for action:

• Assess the impact of climate change.
• Measurement of water quality inflows.
• Ensure that responsibilities under the Ramsar Convention are taken seriously.
• More open consultation with the community by the Gippsland Lakes and Catchment Task Force.
• Investigate the effects of fire retardant on water quality.
• Assess the role of logging on the health of the Lakes.
• Monitor impact of Macalister Irrigation District on Lakes water quality.
• List of flora and fauna species found in/around Lakes.
• Investigate possible Heritage Listing of Lakes.
• Obtain accurate information on  toxins in fish etc.
• Community education/awareness of Lakes ecosystem.
• Ensure adequate funding for the Gippsland Lakes and Catchment Task Force.

View:

• Prof. Max Finlayson's PowerPoint presentation highlighting Government's failure to appropriately honour its Ramsar Convention responsibilities,
• Prof John Beardall's summation of current algal bloom research for the Gippsland Lakes
• Professor Barry Hart's (Chair, Gippsland Lakes and Catchment Task Force) presentation

Read:

• Dr. Fisher's talk on the under-recognised problem of 'superbugs' in our water.

PATCHES of pink or red water are currently visible in some areas on the Gippsland Lakes and authorities are keen to let the public know that they are not harmful to humans or animals.

Gippsland Coastal Board chairman Duncan Malcolm said the red water could be seen in the Cunninghame Arm, Newlands Arm, Duck Arm, Eagle Bay and Paynesville areas.

"This discolouration is caused by a species of dinoflagellate algae called Noctiluca scintillans,'' he said.

"It is a large (up to two millimetres) algae that feeds on other algae, micro-organisms and fish eggs.

"There are no known toxic effects on humans, animals or fish and the ammonia released by the red algae may deter fish from swimming in the affected area.

To report sightings of red algae on the Lakes, phone Department of Sustainability and Environment algal response coordinator Daniel Mainville on 5172 2111.