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Lake Albert (New South Wales)
Encyclopedia
Lake Albert is an artificial lake
in the suburb of Lake Albert
in Wagga Wagga
in New South Wales
, Australia
. Covering 125 ha, the lake was built in the 1890s on what was known as Swampy Plains and was named after Prince Albert.
Surrounded by parkland, the lake is a venue for water sports, fishing, walking and bird watching. The lake is home to the Boat Club and one of the town's two golf courses, Wagga Wagga Country Club, is situated on the western shore of the lake.
On 8–9 May 1976, the Water Ski Challenge Shield was held on the lake for the first time which was formed by Zone 5 of the New South Wales Ski Association and the Wagga Boat Club. On 9 May 1976, Australian Ski and Victorian trial champion, Barry Carne from the Melbourne suburb of Lower Templestowe
, died when he collapsed and cart wheeled up to twelve times during the sixth lap of the final heat of the ski challenge.
The Barry Carne Memorial Ski Race was held on the second Saturday and Sunday in May of each year, subject to water levels in the lake. On the 13 and 14 May 2006 the event returned to Lake Albert after a 4 year absence due to the lake being at record low levels owing to drought but was cancelled in 2007 due to low water levels.
On 12 May 2009, due to the low water levels in the lake the Barry Carne High and Dry event was held. In March 2010 it was announced that Barry Carne Memorial Ski Race would return to the lake on 3rd Saturday and Sunday in May, after record breaking rain had filled that lake.
In January 2007, a ban on water sport activities on Lake Albert was likely if the lake's water level drops below 1.2 m (3.9 ft) due to the ongoing drought
.
On 20 March 2008, the lake was closed for the second time since January 2008 due to high levels of Faecal Coliforms
in the water.
In January 2010, the lake's water levels were at record lows with a large amount of fish, mostly European carp, dying due to the low water levels, blue-green algae and hot weather. With the low water levels and dying fish, residents around the lake fear that a mosquitoes outbreak is possible which could see an outbreak of the Ross River fever
.
The lake was expected to be almost dried up by the end of March, however heavy rain fell over the area in mid February which had slightly raised the lake's water level after falling to 200 millimetres (7.9 in).
Record breaking rains in the catchment on 7 March had raised the lakes level to 2 metres (6.6 ft), the deepest level since 2006.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the suburb of Lake Albert
Lake Albert, New South Wales
Lake Albert is a suburb of the city of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia, on the shores of Lake Albert from which it is named. The suburb has three schools; Lake Albert Primary School, Mater Dei Primary School and Mater Dei Catholic College...
in Wagga Wagga
Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Wagga Wagga is a city in New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Murrumbidgee River, and with an urban population of 46,735 people, Wagga Wagga is the state's largest inland city, as well as an important agricultural, military, and transport hub of Australia...
in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Covering 125 ha, the lake was built in the 1890s on what was known as Swampy Plains and was named after Prince Albert.
Surrounded by parkland, the lake is a venue for water sports, fishing, walking and bird watching. The lake is home to the Boat Club and one of the town's two golf courses, Wagga Wagga Country Club, is situated on the western shore of the lake.
Events
Templestowe Lower, Victoria
Templestowe Lower is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 15 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. It's Local Government Area is the City of Manningham...
, died when he collapsed and cart wheeled up to twelve times during the sixth lap of the final heat of the ski challenge.
The Barry Carne Memorial Ski Race was held on the second Saturday and Sunday in May of each year, subject to water levels in the lake. On the 13 and 14 May 2006 the event returned to Lake Albert after a 4 year absence due to the lake being at record low levels owing to drought but was cancelled in 2007 due to low water levels.
On 12 May 2009, due to the low water levels in the lake the Barry Carne High and Dry event was held. In March 2010 it was announced that Barry Carne Memorial Ski Race would return to the lake on 3rd Saturday and Sunday in May, after record breaking rain had filled that lake.
Water levels
Due to years of drought the water level at Lake Albert reached record lows and in 2005 Wagga Wagga City Council considered pumping water into the lake to prevent further fish deaths which was ruled out by a senior council official. After a thunderstorm dumped around 50 mm (2 in) in the area the lake reached its full depth in early November 2005.In January 2007, a ban on water sport activities on Lake Albert was likely if the lake's water level drops below 1.2 m (3.9 ft) due to the ongoing drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
.
On 20 March 2008, the lake was closed for the second time since January 2008 due to high levels of Faecal Coliforms
Fecal coliforms
A fecal coliform is a facultatively-anaerobic, rod-shaped, gram-negative, non-sporulating bacterium. Fecal coliforms are capable of growth in the presence of bile salts or similar surface agents, are oxidase negative, and produce acid and gas from lactose within 48 hours at 44 ± 0.5°C.Coliform...
in the water.
In January 2010, the lake's water levels were at record lows with a large amount of fish, mostly European carp, dying due to the low water levels, blue-green algae and hot weather. With the low water levels and dying fish, residents around the lake fear that a mosquitoes outbreak is possible which could see an outbreak of the Ross River fever
Ross River Fever
Ross River Fever is a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by infection with the Ross River virus. The illness is typically characterised by an influenza-like illness and polyarthritis...
.
The lake was expected to be almost dried up by the end of March, however heavy rain fell over the area in mid February which had slightly raised the lake's water level after falling to 200 millimetres (7.9 in).
Record breaking rains in the catchment on 7 March had raised the lakes level to 2 metres (6.6 ft), the deepest level since 2006.