Sailability back on Jack Roper Reserve lake after Melbourne Water gives all-clear

A CLUB can set sail again after being left high and dry for almost a year because millions of litres of contaminated water from a toxic fire in Coolaroo polluted its lake.

Koos Soeterboek is delighted that Sailability can again set sail at Jack Roper Reserve.

A CLUB can set sail again after being left high and dry for almost a year because millions of litres of contaminated water from a toxic fire in Coolaroo polluted its lake.

Pollution spiked to dangerous levels in the lake at Jack Roper Reserve because of water run-off from the fire at the SMK recycling factory last July, leaving the club for the disabled stranded.

E.coli levels after the fire were 10 times the acceptable levels for sailing.

LARGE FIRE TAKES HOLD OF COOLAROO RECYCLING YARD

COOLAROO RECYCLING FACTORY FIRE UNDER CONTROL

WASTE FACILITIES NOT PREPARED TO BATTLE FIRE

Melbourne Water last week gave Sailability Victoria’s Broadmeadows club the all clear to use the lake after levels of e.coli returned to safer levels.

Club teacher Koos Soeterboek said disabled teenagers and adults who wanted to learn to sail would be relieved. He said the club relied on their monetary contributions to cover the $1700 annual insurance policy for its four 3m boats. “I don’t know if we could have lasted much longer,” he said.

Mr Soeterboek said the boats were stored in a lockup facility at the reserve and it had been impractical to move them to a new location while the lake was polluted.

About 15 people couldn’t wait to take to the water at the club’s Thursday sessions.

He said that as a result of Melbourne Water’s pollution investigation, the authority last week removed a submerged car wreck that had been in the lake for a year.

Broadmeadows disability services chief executive Barb van den Vlekkert said her agency’s clients loved the program “and some of our members have gained their boating licence and now volunteer for the club teaching others to sail”.

Melbourne Water manager of regional services (west) Emily Phillips said the aiuthority “would like to thank Sailability and the local community for their patience”.

Hume council’s corporate services director Daryl Whitfort said although the lake was suitable for sailing the council was waiting for advice on whether it was safe to swim or to eat fish caught there, and recommended people do not do either.