Editor – I would like to reply to an article, “Toxic algae bloom killing wildlife” in Bruma Lake, published in the EXPRESS on February 11.
Firstly, this ‘lake’ is fed year-round by what I am sure is industrial effluent coming from some factory in the light industrial area upstream in Bez Valley.
I notice this because my regular cycle route takes me across the bridge below Bruma as well as upstream, and I always see foam coming from the flowing water, even in the middle of winter, when there is no rain for months.
It has been like this for more than 10 years. Secondly, the Egyptian geese mentioned are exotic and are breeding out of control in the region, and displacing indigenous water fowl elsewhere, not to mention fouling up open spaces. This is more noticeable downstream at Gillooly’s Farm where their dung now covers most of the grassed picnic areas. I stopped cycling along the path on the far side of the dam at Gillooly’s because it has become so thick with Egyptian Geese dung. I am sure an expert will agree that they should be culled. Zoo Lake is just as bad.
Who is supposed to manage these resources and why are they not doing their job? And I must ask if proper long-term planning was ever done for Bruma Lake. Beside the flow of effluent I mentioned, as well as sewage overflow from time to time, it has just the occasional rush of silt-laden storm water that feeds it. In my view, it was destined to hold stagnant water and silt up. Perhaps we can move beyond past obsessions with “water fronts” and fill it up and make it a park or public space? A BMX track is one idea.
Bruce Gillespie,
Bellevue.
Editor’s comment – The EXPRESS forwarded an enquiry to the CoJ on March 24. At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.
