Groups push for refurbishment of Einbunpin lagoon
TWO Sandgate organisations are hoping to rally the community behind a push for a refurbishment of Einbunpin Lagoon.
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TWO Sandgate organisations are hoping to rally the community behind a push for a refurbishment of Einbunpin Lagoon.
Sandgate and Districts Chamber of Commerce and Keep Sandgate Beautiful Association (KSBA) believe the lagoon is a valuable community asset that has been neglected for too long.
Parts of the concrete edge around the lagoon have crumbled and temporary fencing along the affected area has been in place for at least three years.
The water and foreshore are also polluted with toxic blue green algae.
Deagon Ward Councillor Jared Cassidy is also pushing for a refurbishment and told The Star late last week that council officers were now sourcing quotes to repair the damaged section of the concrete edge.
“This area will be replaced before June 30,” Cr Cassidy said.
“It isn’t a full replacement of the whole wall but it will make this area safer and people will once again be able to go to the edge of the lagoon.”
KSBA president Frank Box said Sandgate was lucky to have a lagoon such as this in the centre of the community.
“It is a total asset, however the aspect is not so nice when one goes for a closer look – the water is foul and the concrete edges are collapsing everywhere,” he said.
“It has, of course, been this way for some years and, apparently, we are told that it will be years more before anything is done. So what to do?
“Why don’t we experiment with different solutions for securing the banks?
“Remove the odd couple of broken concrete blocks and plant different things to see what happens.
“And if Council is too poor to do the whole job, all the more reason to look for alternative solutions which may come in at a lower cost.
“Let’s be innovative, try something, give it a go, no more wringing our hands and then sitting on them.”
Chamber president Bill Gollan said, “We see Einbunpin Lagoon as the jewel in the crown for our area and it’s in decline.
“If it’s cleaned up and looks nice and attracts people to the area it’s better for our businesses.
“Many large shopping centres build artificial lagoons and lakes in the centres: we’ve got a natural lagoon and we’re letting it deteriorate.”
Mr Gollan said the Chamber had spoken with both the Lord Mayor’s office and Cr Cassidy about the lagoon.
“I think people of this community are over the blame game from all sides,” he said.
“Our purpose here is not to blame Council. Let’s pull together as a community and make this right.”
Cr Cassidy said he would be pushing for a full refurbishment of the lagoon – with a total wall reconstruction and a broader water quality project – in his budget submission to the Lord Mayor in March.
“This sort of project would probably run into the millions, possibly $2 million,” he said.
“It’s a reasonable project and something that needs to be especially set aside in a budget. This is an important time for the community to make its voice heard around this issue so it gets pushed up the (funding priority) ladder.”
Cr Cassidy said the concrete edging wall around the lagoon may date from the 1960s.
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