The ACT Government invites the community to be an active partner in reducing nutrients entering Lake Tuggeranong, to improve the water quality in the Lake for everyone.

Our vision is that, by 2035, Lake Tuggeranong is more consistently free of blue-green algal blooms and, when they do occur, they are short-lived so the Tuggeranong community can enjoy the lake most of the year.

The lake’s biggest water quality issue is blue-green algae, caused by excess nutrients from fallen leaves, fertiliser, grass clippings and soil that make their way to the lake via stormwater drains from our homes and gardens.

A healthier lake is in reach and every household in Tuggeranong can play a part.

Whether you use the lake, live near the lake or simply care about Canberra’s waterways, we wanted to hear how the proposed options would impact you.

Research shows that the most effective way to reduce nutrients in the lake is to prevent nutrient pollution at its source. This means that the ACT Government must shift their focus from building wetlands and other assets that treat stormwaters once they have become polluted, to include more options to stop pollution at its source.

Community action can greatly contribute to stopping pollution from entering our waterways by reducing fertiliser use and ensuring grass clippings and leaves end up in composts or green bins, not in stormwater drains.

Your feedback has been used to understand:

• How the lake’s condition affects you and your community
• What might enable you to take action at home

Feedback on the draft options to improve the health of the lake have been provided through a variety of engagement methods including:

• An online survey open from 30 October – 11 December 2025
• Online quick comments open from 30 October – 11 December 2025
• Engagement events including pop-ups and online and in-person information sessions

We have sought input from the broader community and engaged directly with First Nations people and community groups. Further targeted stakeholder workshops will be hosted with environmental groups and local businesses in early February 2026.

A listening report summarising all engagement activities will be released in early 2026 and will be used to help the ACT Government develop a 10-year plan to help restore Lake Tuggeranong.

Read a summary of the possible options that Government may use to improve the health of the Lake in the Community Consultation Paper: Developing a 10-year plan to restore Lake Tuggeranong. Read the technical reports on the Lake Tuggeranong Catchment Plan web page.

During the ‘journey of the stormwater’, it’s possible to remove nutrients from the system, or to treat algae at three stages.

It will take a variety of actions to improve the health of the lake – there is no one single solution.

The most effective way to reduce nutrients in the lake is to prevent nutrient pollution at its source, that means preventing fallen leaves, fertiliser, grass clippings and soil from getting into stormwater drains in the first place from gardens, driveways and roadside verges.

The ACT Government will use community and stakeholder feedback to take steps to develop the 10-year plan to restore Lake Tuggeranong. This includes consideration of which of the potential options Government may use to improve outcomes.