Fabbro helps Sarina community improve dam water quality
Published on 02 March, 2012
CQUniversity's Associate Professor Larelle Fabbro has continued her role helping the Sarina community improve water quality at Middle Creek Dam.
Sarina Landcare Catchment Management Association (SLCMA) recently held an information session at Middle Creek Dam to discuss continued involvement with the local community to improve water quality at the dam.
Middle Creek Dam is located at the top of Plane Creek Catchment and has a history of blue-green algae outbreaks. These outbreaks can have detrimental affects on aquatic life both in the dam and downstream.
Assoc Prof Fabbro acted as guest speaker for the morning event, highlighting problems associated with blue-green algae. She also discussed the importance of monitoring blue-green algae outbreaks and the effects of blue-green algae on local ecosystems, human health and animal health.
Stuart Boyd from the Mackay Regional Council Water and Waste Services provided information about monitoring of blue-green algae at the dam and the current closure of the dam to recreational users since December 2011, due to an algae bloom.
The information session was attended by staff from local council and businesses, community members and landholders.
During the morning, SLCMA staff provided information on a new project for the Middle Creek Dam catchment; ‘Landholder engagement and on ground activities for improved water quality', funded through Australian Government Caring for Our Country Program.
The new project complements a previous project delivered by SLCMA, which involved the placement of aquaponic units (floating pontoons) onto the dam to reduce excess nutrients from the water column. The new phase will encourage local landholders to implement sustainable land management practices that will reduce nutrient runoff into the dam, help improve water quality and potentially reduce the incidence of blue-green algae outbreaks.
Attendees were able to see, up close, one of the seven new aquaponic units constructed by Sarina State High School agricultural students. These units will be placed onto the dam in upcoming weeks.
Some forms of blue-green algae can produce toxins which can have both short and long-term effects on the health of humans and animals. Community members are asked to report any instances of the algae outbreaks, which may appear as a ‘green scummy slick on the surface of the water', by phoning Mackay Regional Council on 1300 622 529 or SLCMA on 49 561 388.
This project is funded through Australian Government Caring for our Country Program and is supported by Mackay Regional Council, CQUniversity, Reef Catchments Mackay Whitsunday and Sarina State High School.