In brief:

• The ACT Government has released its 10‑year plan to improve water quality in Lake Tuggeranong.
• The plan focuses on reducing pollution to make algal blooms shorter and less frequent.
• Everyone can contribute by changing everyday habits and supporting lake care.

The ACT Government has released a 10-year plan to improve the health of Lake Tuggeranong.

The Healthy Waterways Plan for Lake Tuggeranong outlines clear steps to improve the lake’s water quality by 2036.

Residents, businesses and community groups can all help implement the plan, which incorporates recent community feedback.

How will the plan improve the lake?

People use Lake Tuggeranong for recreation, connecting with nature and staying active.

When there is an algal bloom in the lake, it impacts how people can use and enjoy it.

While algal blooms cannot be fully stopped, the plan includes actions to make them less frequent, shorter and easier to manage.

This will lead to fewer harmful blooms and lake closures, allowing Canberrans to make the most of Lake Tuggeranong.

What causes algal blooms?

The plan includes steps to prevent nutrient pollution.

Excess phosphorus is a key cause. This comes from things like leaves, grass clippings, fertilisers and dirt from nature strips, footpaths, roads and driveways.

When it rains, stormwater washes nutrients, including phosphorus, into the lake. This helps algae grow.

What is in the plan?

The ACT Government has set aside funding in the 2026–27 ACT Budget to start key actions. These include:

• more street sweeping
• helping residents improve their gardening habits
• better research and monitoring
• trials of new ways to control algae.

The Government will carry out ongoing research and review. Actions will be adapted over time as new ideas are tested and expanded.

What can locals do?

Everyone can help improve the lake. Residents, businesses and community groups can:

• use waterway-sensitive gardening methods
• put leaves and grass clippings in green bins, so their nutrients don’t end up in the lake.

What happens in the long term?

The plan also includes longer-term actions over the next 10 years. These include building wetlands and other systems to filter pollution and employing First Nations rangers to support land and water care.

It builds on previous investment in improving water quality in the Tuggeranong catchment through the Healthy Waterways Program.

This funding has helped build wetlands, upgrade stormwater systems and support community education.

Further details

Find more information about the Healthy Waterways Plan for Lake Tuggeranong and what you can on the ACT Environment website.

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