Johnathan Davis MLA, ACT Greens Member for Brindabella, will today move a motion in the ACT Legislative Assembly calling on the ACT Government to do more to protect Lake Tuggeranong from grass clippings and leaf litter.
“A recent survey from the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment showed that when it came to the health of Lake Tuggeranong, the community was most concerned about litter, blue-green algae, and pest fish populations,” Mr Davis said.
“But scientists studying water quality in Lake Tuggeranong tell us that the biggest issue is organic matter from grass clippings and leaf litter that enter our lakes and waterways.”
Mr Davis said he was thrilled Shane Rattenbury, Greens leader and ACT Minister for Water, was honouring ACT Greens election commitments related to water, including investing more money into the ‘Healthy Waterways’ program, securing more than $20.5 million for the program so far this term.
“However, I am concerned that a lot of that investment risks being wasted if the ACT Government isn’t cleaning up after itself,” Mr Davis said.
He wants the ACT Government to better support hardworking Transport Canberra and City Services mowing teams by improve the collection of grass clippings and leaf litter from its mowing program.
“The ACT Government is investing in programs like ‘The Leaf Collective’ to help educate the community about the effect grass clippings and leaf litter have on our lakes and waterways,” Mr Davis said.
“The ACT Government has a responsibility to make sure it’s leading by example and ensuring its own mowing program is reducing grass clippings and leaf litter making its way to our lakes and waterways.
“This could include using mowers with catchers, increasing the rate of street sweeping, trialling a dedicated street-sweeping and a post-mowing collection program, or installing collection nets inside storm water drains – perhaps even all of these things and at once.
“I’m asking the ACT Government to give our mowing team the tools and investment they need to be a part of the solution to cleaner lakes and waterways.
“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all the groups committed to protecting and improving water quality in Lake Tuggeranong, including the Tuggeranong Lake and Catchment Carers, the Tuggeranong Community Council, and the Southern ACT Catchment Group, to name a few. I will continue to work with these groups and advocate strongly for programs and investments to improve Lake Tuggeranong.”
