Black Mountain Beach

Water Quality Questions? Visit the LBG Water Quality Information Page

WATER QUALITY INFORMATION

This area is OPEN and there are no restrictions in place.

Temperature: 21.8 C

SITE INFORMATION

Located in the western reaches of Lake Burley Griffin, Black Mountain Beach is a popular family destination with a designated swimming enclosure, beach, toilets, ample parking, grassy picnic areas, a large playground and barbeques.

Black Mountain Beach is only 15 minutes from the city centre of Canberra.

To the north of the beach is the Black Mountain Peninsula public boat ramp.

*STANDING BACTERIA ALERT*
Swimming should be avoided for several days after heavy rainfall as bacterial levels are strongly affected by such events.

Get directions to this beach

COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is still essential. Only go to the beach if you are able to keep 6 feet or 2 meters away from others. Follow the instructions provided by your local health authorities. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter our efforts to curb the virus’s spread.

Water Quality

Meets water quality standards
Current Status
This status is based on the latest sample, taken on March 20th, 2023. National Capital Authority updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on March 22nd, 2023 at 7:53 PM.

For water quality icon legend, click:

Report Pollution

Monitoring Frequency

Source Information

The National Capital Authority (the NCA) monitors the water quality of Lake Burley Griffin in accordance with the Lake Burley Griffin Water Quality Management Plan 2010 (available on www.nca.gov.au). Lake Burley Griffin is a freshwater lake.

During the recreational season (mid October to mid April) Enterococci and blue green algae (cyanobacteria) are monitored to advise on the suitability of the water quality for recreational purposes (Primary Contact Recreation: swimming, bathing, novice secondary, and Secondary Contact Recreation: sailing, rowing, kayaks etc).

Sites are monitored weekly during the Recreational Season. The Recreational Season runs from 2nd Monday in October to 2nd Monday in April. Samples are collected Mondays (or Tuesdays if Monday is a public holiday).

Beaches are given a red (fail) if they exceed either of the following protective criteria:

Enterococci: 200 cfu/100mL

Cyanobacteria: 20,000 Indicative Microcystis aeruginosa algae cells/ml (Medium alert)

Additional warnings are issued when cyanobacteria level reach high (?50,000 cells/ml) or extreme ( ?125,000 cells/ml) levels.

The NCA updates the Lake Burley Griffin Water Quality website (www.nca.gov.au) each week during the season with water quality data. Further user advice and information about lake closures and health alerts can also be found at
https://www.nca.gov.au/national-land/lake-burley-griffin-management/lake-water-quality

Follow the NCA on Twitter: @nca_media and Facebook: @NCA.gov for current water quality information.

Water quality information and data requests can be sent to lakeburleygriffin@nca.gov.au

Water Quality Advisory signs are at all recreational areas.

Water Quality Graph