Landcare group wins marine protection award for weed control at lake

LENNOX Head Landcare has been recognised for its decade long battle in combating invasive aquatic weeds which threaten the future of Lake Ainsworth at the NSW Tidy Towns Sustainability awards.

Ballina Shire Council nominated the group for the Waterways and Marine Protection award for its work in removing large amounts of water hyacinth at the lake.

Hyacinth is an aquatic weed, which floats on the water surface and can double in size every five days during its growing season.

The rapid growth creates dense mats that block waterways, choke out native plants, reduce sunlight and harm fish and wildlife.

The control efforts started with a core group of 10, who have spent countless hours in protecting the future of the lake.

“It’s great for the whole group to be acknowledged and it’s been a big effort all round,” Lennox Head Landcare project coordinator Kelly Saunderson said.

“The risk of hyacinth is that it could smother the lake to the point where no one can swim in it and completely ruin its ecosystem.”

Controlling the weed is a long-term project for the group who is now in partnership with the council and the Office of Sport and Recreation at Lennox Head.

Summer can see the group dedicate hundreds of hours to the work with support from multiple groups.

Saunderson said extra volunteers have come from the dragon boat club, school students, local community groups, kayakers and holidaymakers.

“Some people have come across from the caravan park on holiday and helped us out,” she said.

“Other people have paddled past on kayaks and joined our group. It really is a whole community effort.

“Many hands make light work and there would hundreds of people who have helped us in some capacity over the years.

“Unfortunately, it’s not going away anytime soon, and the best time to get on top of it is in the summer months.”

Anyone interested in helping the group can contact them at lennoxheadlandcare.org.