Community group Revive Lake Cathie has started water quality monitoring at Lake Innes to establish a baseline of water quality health for the important wetland area.

Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan said Revive Lake Cathie has received $20,000 from the Australian Government’s Community Environment Program to undertake the project which will help to conserve biodiversity in the Lake Innes Nature Reserve.

“There are many endangered animal species that call the Lake Innes Nature Reserve home and this project will work with existing stakeholders to determine a baseline for the lake’s water quality,” he said.

“With this grant 10 water quality testing kits will be purchased and Revive Lake Cathie will carry out water testing with local school students and residents to record water temperature, salinity, ph, sulphate, sediment and any contaminants which may be present.

“I’m particularly excited about the education value of this project as Revive Lake Cathie is going to work with a number of local high schools to get students involved and promote good environmental stewardship.”

Endangered species living in the Lake Innes Nature Reserve include breeding ospreys, green and golden bell frog, local koala populations and endangered habitats present are salt marsh and the Christmas Bell Plains.

Revive Lake Cathie President Danielle Maltman said Revive Lake Cathie is excited about the project and teaching high school students how to collect and test water samples and collate data.

“There are significant science linkages between our project and high school studies in biology, chemistry and marine and geography studies,” she said.

“Collaboration will enable the community to evidence environmental change at Lake Innes, its wetlands and allow us to work together to establish a water quality baseline.

“Once we know the health and quality of Lake Innes, we will be able to implement strategies to protect and improve it.

“We thank Mr Conaghan for his support of our grant application and helping us to care for our local environment.”

The Australian Government has invested about $22 million this financial year in the Communities Environment Program. It has supported a wide range of small-scale, on-ground projects to conserve, protect and better manage our environment.

Media contact:

Mr Conaghan – Liz Spry 0418 928 744