Dulwa & Nengi Bamir - Lake Ginninderra

Belconnen, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Managed by Transport Canberra & City Services - ACT Government

Photo by: Dylan Neild

WATER QUALITY INFORMATION

This area is CLOSED to Primary Contact (swimming, bathing, novice secondary) due to elevated levels of Blue green algae. Secondary-contact recreation (such as rowing, fishing, boating and canoeing) will still be permitted, however people should not engage in secondary-contact recreation unless:

• they are experienced;
• they are informed of the algae risks and what to do if contact occurs;
• they do not engage in primary-contact during the recreation; and
• shower facilities, with suitable water, are available for washing after the recreation.

There is an increased risk of adverse health symptoms from water exposure. Blue-green algae in very large numbers cause deterioration in water quality and pose a threat to public health. As blue-green algae die they can release toxins into the water. These toxins can cause symptoms such as eye or skin irritations, sore throats or gastro-enteritis in humans.

Dogs are very susceptible to the toxic algae when ingested. Refer to the ACT guidelines for recreational water quality for further health information.

Standing Bacteria Alert: Swimming should be avoided for several days after heavy rainfall as bacterial levels are strongly affected by such events.

SITE INFORMATION

Dulwa and Nengi Bamir beaches are ideal locations for picnics, swimming, fishing or to launch your kayak or canoe. There is also a boat launching ramp.

The area is an ideal place for a family picnic amongst the planted native and exotic trees while observing the many species of water birds. The design of the park emphasises the provision of vehicular access for intensive lake and lakeside recreation in a predominantly Australian landscape setting.

Facilities include:

•Toilets
•Electric barbecues
•Playground
•Shelter
•Picnic tables
•Fishing
•Swimming
•Canoe / kayak entry point
•Boat launch (power boating prohibited)

DOGS ON LEASH

For further information go to - https://www.environment.act.gov.au/parks-conservation/parks-and-reserves/find-a-park/urban-parks/lake-ginninderra

WATER QUALITY

Met water quality standards less than 60% of the time
Historical Status
This status is based on the latest sample, taken on . Transport Canberra & City Services - ACT Government updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on at

For water quality icon legend, click:

Report Pollution

MONITORING FREQUENCY

SOURCE INFORMATION

Blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria) and Bacteria (intestinal enterococci, a faecal indicator) are monitored to evaluate water quality for recreational purposes. Bacteria water quality criteria only applies to primary contact activities e.g. swimming, water-skiing, diving etc. Blue- green algae water quality criteria applies to both primary and secondary contact activities e.g. sailing, rowing, kayaking etc.

Blue-green algae is tested all year-round on a weekly basis. Faecal indicators are tested weekly during the recreation season (September/ October to April).

Samples are typically collected on Mondays (or Tuesdays if Monday is a public holiday). Secondary resampling if required occurs on the following day.

Water quality results are posted on the Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS) website, Water Quality in Our Lakes, Ponds and Rivers.
Water quality advisory signs are located at all recreational areas where sampling occurs and as required are changed to reflect the status of a designated site.
Microbial results are entered into a spreadsheet which is sent out to designated stakeholders. From October 2017 the microbial results may be available from the data act website. Certificates of analysis are sent to Environmental Health at the HPS.

Advisories are issued when water quality exceeds either cyanobacteria and cyanotoxin criteria or when enterococci levels exceed public health risk criteria.

Beaches are given a green (pass) status if their most recent sample results meet both of the following protective criteria :
Enterococci: 200 cfu/100mL

Cyanobacteria: less than 20,000 Indicative Microcystis aeruginosa algae cells/ml

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.

WATER QUALITY GRAPH