Tuggeranong Community Council Inc.

Next meeting: General Meeting
Tuesday 1 May 2012, 7:30pm

Venue: Southern Cross Club, Tuggeranong (upstairs)
Cnr Pitman and Holwell Streets, Tuggeranong Town Centre
Click for map of venue

This issue of the Tuggeranong Community Council’s monthly newsletter includes articles on the latest results from the Council’s Top Issues Survey and what are the major concerns among Tuggeranong residents as we head into an election. We also meet Tuggeranong’s new top cop,  update on plans for the Greenway Lakes development and a full wrap up of the TCC’s Clean Up Campaign around Lake Tuggeranong plus much more. To keep up to date with issues in Tuggeranong, click on the link below to view the latest issue of the TCC Newsletter. 

Valley Voice Issue – March 2012

The Tuggeranong Community Council is seeking community input as it formulates its list of top issues for 2012. The list will guide the Council on the issues that most concern you in 2012 and the things you want your Community Council to focus on during the 2012 ACT Election Campaign. To help the Council identify the Top Issues for 2012 you are invited to complete the Tuggeranong Community Council 2012 Top Issues Survey.

The team will be spit in two with one group circling the lake clockwise and the other anti-clockwise. Each group will meet at the Lake Tuggeranong Sea Scout Hall in Mortimer Lewis Drive East Greenway. The Sea Scouts will host a sausage sizzle for all participants and raise funds for their contingent to the next Jamboree.

PRIMARY CONTACTS (18 March)

Site Supervisor Ph: 0431 235 970 (On site)

First Aid Post Ph: 0411 283 813 (Lake Tuggeranong Sea Scout Hall)

CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA RISK WARNING NOTICE

• No person is permitted to participate unless registered
• All volunteers must complete the official onsite registration form
• All children 15-years of age and under must be accompanied by an adult
• Sturdy enclosed footwear, gloves and protective equipment (i.e., hat, sunglasses/eye protection, sunscreen, and long sleeves) please ensure to keep yourself well hydrated.
• Some items to be cleaned up may be hazardous (e.g. building materials, asbestos, chemicals) Do not handle any item you are unsure about – please inform your Site Supervisor.
• Some cleanup areas may be potentially dangerous (e.g. roadsides, cliff edges and river banks) Please ensure you take adequate precautions to ensure your own safety and the safety of those around you.
• Some clean up areas may contain hidden dangers (e.g. venomous snakes and spiders) Please act with caution.
• Do not handle syringes. If you find a syringe, inform your Site Supervisor on 0431 235 970.

ACT GOVERNMENT BLUE GREEN ALGAE WARNING

Lake Tuggeranong is currently closed to Primary contact (e.g. swimming) due to the level of blue-green algae present.  This would not preclude Clean Up Australia volunteers from cleaning rubbish from the lake however Clean Up Australia should advise any volunteers intending to do so to follow the advice on the Blue Green Algae website:

http://www.environment.act.gov.au/water/water_quality/blue-green_algae_monitoring

ACT Health (ACT Guidelines for Recreational Water Quality 2010) provides the following advice for secondary contact conditions during an extreme level alert for Blue Green Algae, as is currently the alert level in Lake Tuggeranong:

Safety Issues

Exposure to blue green algae can occur by:

• drinking contaminated water
• inhaling contaminated water mist and/or droplets
• skin and eye contact.

An individual’s reaction to the blue green algae toxins can vary depending on their sensitivity to the algae. Reactions can include skin rashes, swollen lips, eye irritation and redness, earache and itchiness, sore throat, hay fever or asthma like symptoms.

Recommendations

People should not engage in secondary contact recreation unless:

• they are experienced;
• they are informed of the algal risks and what to do if contact occurs;
• they do not engage in primary-contact during the recreation; and
• showering facilities, with suitable water, are available for washing after the
• recreation;
• Event organisers should ensure that participants are aware of the blue-green algae alert level, associated exposure risks and provide adequate showering facilities for after events; and
• That water users should look for warnings signs indicating the current alert level at major water entry points.

Clean Up Australia participants are reminded that there are warning signs located at all the recreational areas of the Lake, and these should be checked by participants prior to engaging in contact with the water.

Algal levels are monitored weekly and the Lake’s status is updated on this page of the above Blue Green Algae website:

http://www.environment.act.gov.au/water/water_quality/blue-green_algae_monitoring#results

If algal levels increase the Lake may also be closed to Secondary contact.  If the lake is closed to Secondary contact Clean Up Australia volunteers are advised not to take rubbish from within Lake Tuggeranong or pick up rubbish which may have been in the lake.

FIRST AID

A First Aid Post will be established at the Tuggeranong Sea Scout Hall. The contact phone number on the day will be 0411 283 813.

This issue of the Tuggeranong Community Council’s monthly newsletter includes articles on the TCC delegation to the Federal Government to put the Council’s case against residential development at South Tralee. It also reports on debate in the Legislative Assembly after the TCC was described as a “geriatric mob and self help group.” The Newsletter contains details of the Greens Budget wish-list for Tuggeranong, progress to improve the safety and amenity of East Greenway and an article on your rights as a pedestrian on Canberra roads, plus much more. To keep up to date with issues in Tuggeranong, click on the link below to view the latest issue of the TCC Newsletter. 

 Valley Voice  – February 2012

Rubbish in Lake Tuggeranong

Dear Members and friends,

No doubt you join me in expressing concern over the current state of Lake Tuggeranong. It was one of the issues highlighted as a priority for the TCC in 2012 and its poor condition has gained negative media coverage recently. However, we have an opportunity to do something about it and make a positive contribution on Sunday 4 March during CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA.  Please click here for more images of pollution in Lake Tuggeranong.

I have taken the liberty of registering a Tuggeranong Community Council team and nominating Lake Tuggeranong as a Clean Up Site. See: http://www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/Tuggeranong+Lake and I am inviting you to visit our Clean Up Australia webpage to sign up as a volunteer.

I also extend and invitation to other groups, Southern ACT Water Catchment Group, Water Watch, The Mens’ Shed, East Tuggeranong Residents Association, Neighbourhood Watch, CROWK etc to join us on the day. 

The plan is to meet at the Tuggeranong Community Centre at 245 Cowlishaw Street (Communities@Work) at 0930 and split into two groups each making their way around the lake and meeting at the drop off point at the Tuggeranong Sea Scout Hall. The Sea Scouts will be doing their own clean up in the Lake) There, we will join the Sea Scouts for a sausage sizzle as they raise funds to get a contingent to the next Scout Jamboree.

Please bring good walking shoes, strong garden gloves, antiseptic hand wash, a hat, sun screen and a bottle of water on the day. Rubbish bags will be supplied. I will keep you posted as we draw closer to the event.   

Visit:  http://www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/Tuggeranong+Lake  and sign up as a volunteer.

Darryl Johnston

President

Tuggeranong Community Council

“Photos courtesy of Dr Bill Phillps, CEO RiverSmart Australia and Martin Lind, Water Watch”

Approved Minutes from the Tuggeranong Community Council General Meeting held on Tuesday 6 December 2011. Please click on the link below.

TCC General Meeting Minutes, 6 December 2011

Tuggeranong Community Council Newsletter Issue 11 January 2012

This issue of the Tuggeranong Community Council’s monthly newsletter includes articles on the state of Lake Tuggeranong which was again closed due to an outbreak of Blue-Green Algae.

It also reports on plans to redevelop the Tuggeranong Hyperdome following the announcement by Myers it will close its store, election campaigning starts in Brindabella with the ALP announcing its candidates for the 2012 ACT Election and much more.

Click on the link below to view your copy of the TCC Newsletter.

Valley Voice Issue – January 2012

TCC General Meeting Minutes November 2011