Busselton City to ask for more funding to fight algal blooms as signage, public messaging in spotlight

The City of Busselton will reiterate its battle against toxic algal blooms in the Vasse River after a council decision to write to the State Government asking for more funding. A motion, brought to the council last week by deputy mayor Anne Ryan requested chief executive Tony Nottle write to Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson requesting more funding to try to prevent repeat issues. It also asked city staff to immediately review current health warnings in place at the river, add additional physical signs and improve messaging of bloom warnings on social media. Cr Ryan said upon visiting the river recently, she had seen many signs out of place and a lack of warning about risks to pets swimming in the water. “Some (signs) are lying in the dirt, some are incorrect,” she said. “One fixed yellow sign has the words ‘toxic blue-green algae in the river water, contact by swimming or other recreation activities in the water is prohibited, human and and animal consumption of this water must be avoided’, this sign is fixed approximately seven to eight feet (2.1-2.4m) tall and I nearly missed it.” While the officer’s comments on the motion indicated support for writing to the minister, it noted the other proposals such as reviewing signage was already city policy. According to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, some species of blue-green algae can be toxic to humans and animals if it is come into contact with, inhaled or eaten. Such blooms have occurred in the Lower Vasse River for nearly a century according to DWER. Algae blooms happen mostly during the summer months due to the warmer temperatures and lack of water flow, allowing the algae to grow. While the motion received broad support from councillors, some took issue with the linking of the algae-related cyanobacteria with motor neurone disease and other neurological illnesses. According to Healthy WA the algae toxins and neurological diseases have been linked in research papers dating back to the 1950s but a 2021 World Health Organisation study found the link was not supported. This caused Cr Richard Beecroft to raise an amendment changing the wording of the point around writing a letter to the minister, replacing discussions of links to MND to just “health risks”. Both Cr Beecroft’s amendment and Cr Ryan’s motion was passed through the council six votes to two.