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Canberra Today 13°/15° | Saturday, March 30, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Triathlon swims into algae problems

HIGH levels of blue-green algae in Lake Burley Griffin’s central basin has created a hurdle for festival organisers ahead of the Proximity Canberra Triathlon Festival this Saturday, February 9. 

With the lake off-limits event director Mark Emerton is now calling the event a “dryathlon”.

He says while it’s disappointing the swim leg won’t be able to proceed due to health concerns, racing on the weekend will now revert to a duathlon (run-ride-run) format.

“For the popular corporate and community triathlon event, the 200-metre swim will be replaced by a one kilometre run,” he says.

“I know there’ll be disappointment for those involved in the swim-leg but the weekend forecast looks perfect and we’re still looking forward to a great, fun day, especially for those who have signed up for their first event of this type.”

The National Capital Authority (NCA) has since announced that certain areas of Lake Burley Griffin are closed to primary contact.

This includes full immersion activities such as swimming, bathing, novice secondary contact recreation, and windsurfing.

NCA says lake users should look for warning signs indicating the current alert level at our beaches. Pet owners should not allow their animals to swim in or drink lake water in areas where there are algal scums.

 

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One Response to Triathlon swims into algae problems

Christopher Emery says: 5 February 2019 at 10:32 pm

While we continue with a policy of street sweeping only several times a year instead of every week there will be a problem with the amount of vegetable matter going into our lakes. Other cities can afford once a week, why not Canberra?

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