A significant project to restore the health of Mill Park’s Peter Hopper Lake is set to enter a crucial new phase.
The first stage of the project, completed in June, involved the removal of around 3000 cubic metres of sediment from the lakebed. The second stage, set to begin in the coming months, will include the removal of the central island and construction of a gross pollutant trap, sediment basin, and raingarden.
City of Whittlesea Chief Executive Craig Lloyd joined Member for Scullin Andrew Giles and Member for Mill Park Lily D’Ambrosio on November 8 to view the progress.
Located in the Redleap Recreation Reserve, Peter Hopper Lake started as a farm dam before the surrounding land was subdivided in the 1970s for residential housing.
Over the years, the lake has suffered from declining water quality, leading to frequent algae blooms.
Council’s team of expert engineers and environmental scientists, in collaboration with specialist consultants, have developed a comprehensive plan to break the cycle of algae outbreaks and restore the lake’s health.
The Friends of Peter Hopper Lake group played an important part in advocating for Federal Government funding to support the revitalisation project, with the activity now jointly funded by the Australian Government’s Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, and the City of Whittlesea.
Mr Lloyd said it was imperative that the lake was restored so that the community could enjoy it again.
“This is a complex project that has been years in the planning and I’m delighted that we are so close to seeing Peter Hopper Lake once again being enjoyed to its full potential,” he said.
“Not only will residents benefit from the restoration project, but improved water quality at the lake will result in a thriving habitat for a diverse range of native flora and fauna.”
Mr Giles said Peter Hopper Lake was central for the Mill Park community and wildlife.
“With this restoration that the Albanese Government is delivering in partnership with the City of Whittlesea, locals can enjoy this important community hub once again,” he said.
“This is a project that I have been fighting for my electorate of Scullin for years. I am excited to be a part of a government that puts the environment front and centre, where it belongs.”
For more information, visit www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/phlr.
