Fish died because of oxygen levels
THOUSANDS of fish found in a Gold Coast lake died because of a lack of oxygen.
On Saturday, locals found thousands of dead fish – and eels – in Clear Island Water Lake and a rock weir barrier between the lake and the canal system just to the north of the Bundall equine precinct.
Mayor Tom Tate said yesterday the results would put “an end to the usual conspiracy theories of the greenies’’.
The water testing, conducted by Griffith University, showed that small bream and mullet died when the water cooled or “turned over”, meaning rising algae diminished oxygen levels.
“I’m advised cold water sinks during some cool weather periods and the muddy water and surrounds on the bottom of the water body then begin to rise,” he said. “This explains why the water looks so filthy. Algae rising ... takes a lot of the oxygen and the fish die. It is never a nice sight to see dead fish or any marine life …”
Council has conducted its own laboratory tests, which will look into oxygen levels, bacteria and other conditions.
A site assessment was conducted on June 13. “Water quality results have indicated the ponds have slightly elevated levels of nutrients and show signs of faecal output. However, other physio chemical property and elements (metals) are within guidelines values,” a report evaluated.