Yarralumla Beach

Yarralumla, Australian Capital Territory

Water Quality Questions? Visit the LBG Water Quality Information Page

WATER QUALITY INFORMATION (16/4/21)

This area is OPEN, however a MEDIUM BLUE GREEN ALGAE ALERT is in place.

Some susceptible individuals may experience skin irritations, hay fever-like symptoms or flu-like symptoms after contact with affected water. Water users should shower after water contact and avoid submersion.

Water users should look for algae warnings signs indicating the current alert level at major water entry points.

Temperature: 18.4 degrees

SITE INFORMATION

Yarralumla Beach is a popular location on the southern shoreline of Lake Burley Griffin. Close to the suburb of Yarralumla and the Parliamentary Zone, Yarralumla Beach is popular with swimmers and people launching kayaks and other small craft. West Lake to the north is popular with wind surfers.

Yarralumla Beach has a generous sandy beach, designated swimming enclosure with swimming platforms, ample free parking, toilets and barbeques and is 15 minutes from the city centre of Canberra.

*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 essential right now. Follow the advice of the health experts. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Heading to the beach should only be considered an option if social distancing practices can be followed. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter the efforts to curb the virus’ spread.

For more information, please visit the World Health Organization public resource on COVID-19.

Water Quality

Passed water quality tests 60-95% of the time
Historical Status
This status is based on the latest sample, taken on April 12th, 2021. National Capital Authority updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on April 15th, 2021 at 6:41 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