Works in place to improve Queens Park lake

Works are scheduled at Queens Park Lake late October as part of an efforts to improve water quality and the ecology of the lake and its native animals.

Carp are an invasive species which have damaged local ecosystems in Queens Park, impacting native plants and animals. In Australia carp are considered an invasive species and present in high densities in areas they are introduced.

The introduction of carp can result in a number of issues including:

• Disruption of the food web for smaller native fish
• Disturbance to plants and algae, stressing other life in the lake
• Carp compete with native fish for food, inhibiting feeding for other fish species
• Carp can quickly dominate a body of water, leaving little room for native species.

The approved method, endorsed by the Animal Ethics Committee, is being used to ensure the carp are removed humanely and ethically. The carp will then be used to create fertiliser.

The carp in Queens Park Lake are scheduled to be removed in late October. This project will bring a positive environmental effect at Queens Park Lake. By removing carp, Council can begin to repair the water quality of the lake and create better conditions for other native fish and wildlife that live in the lake.

Electrofishing is an approved method for collection and management processes of fish. Carp will be affected by a low electrical current, so that they can be caught easily by trained professionals.

This project will allow the Council parks team to survey what other fish species are present in the lake, helping guide future management and conservation efforts.