Water quality report makes for “very good” reading

Lake Illawarra’s 2022-23 report card will be the envy of local parents.

Published last week, the Estuary Health & Water Quality Report Card rated the water quality at locations around the lake based on key ecological health indicators set out by the NSW Government.

Lake Illawarra scored ‘very good’ for water clarity and microscopic algae levels at six of eleven sites tested, and ‘good’ at another three. The two remaining sites earned ‘fair’ ratings.

The sites were tested monthly in the twelve months to April 2023.

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said the results were expected and welcomed.

“Rain washes nutrients and pollutants into our catchment. Last year, being one of the wettest years on record, we had only one site rate ‘very good’ for water quality. This year with the reduction in rainfall we’ve seen, we now have six!” said Cr Bradbery.

“That’s great news for the whole ecosystem of plants, animals and organisms that live in and around Lake Illawarra.

“Tracking shows the lake water is trending in the right direction. It also highlights though the importance of continuing to reduce nutrients and sediments coming into the lake. This includes actions such as stormwater treatment from new developments and management of riparian vegetation in the catchment.

Having ten years of robust data allows us to guide the programs and projects we undertake.”

One such project is the planting of 20,000 native plants, including salt marsh and grasses, which stabilise the foreshore and filter nutrients from entering the water. This lakeside restoration covers 90 hectares across 19 sites.

It was initiated under the Lake Illawarra Coastal Management Program 2020-2030, a joint venture of Wollongong City Council, Shellharbour City Council and other key stakeholders.

The report also saw regular sampling at three sites for enterococci levels which indicate whether water is suitable for recreation.

“Pleasingly, all three sites within Lake Illawarra achieved higher compliance with the recreational water quality guidelines than last year,” said Cr Bradbery.

“That’s great news for those boating or fishing at the lake.”

The Lake Illawarra Estuary Monitoring Program is supported by the NSW Government’s Coastal and Estuary Management Program.

View the full report card here.