For ongoing updates, the Ballina Shire Emergency Dashboard provides the latest information, including recovery assistance, road closures, power outages, and more. For real-time updates, visit:
All Council facilities have returned to normal operating hours. Ballina Resource Recovery Centre is OPEN daily (8am to 4pm) - expect delays as high demand will mean longer wait times.
BLUE GREEN ALGAE STATUS Green Alert as of 11 March 2025. No restrictions on recreational use of the water.
Green Level occurs above 500 cells/mL of Microcystis aeruginosa or >0.04 mm3/L of total cyanobacterial biovolume but below the Amber alert level. At this level routine sampling for algae should be undertaken.
No restrictions on recreational use of the water.
Amber Alert Mode is triggered when Microcystis aeruginosa concentrations are between 5000 and 50,000 cells/mL or the biovolume of all cyanobacteria is between 0.4 and 4mm3/L. At this alert level investigations into the causes and increased sampling of algae should be undertaken.
Council will continue to monitor weekly, however care should be taken to avoid any slicks or scums should they develop.
A Red Alert Action Mode is in place when >50,000 cells of Microcystis aeruginosa >are present or a biovolume of all toxin producing cyanobacteria exceeds 4 mm3/L or if the total of all cyanobacteria (toxic and non toxic) exceeds 10 mm3/L or scums are present for long periods. At Red Alert mode, local and health authorities should be contacted to assess risks to recreational users and appropriate measures should be taken to warn water users.
Water should NOT be used for primary recreation.
Blue green algae are single celled organisms of ancient origin. Otherwise known as cyanobacteria there are about 40 species known in this country. A selected number of these exhibit toxic properties from time to time. Species that have been identified from time to time in Lake Ainsworth include: dolichospermum, microcystis, pseudanabaena, chroococcus, lyngbya, and oscillatoria.
The algae may sometimes (but not always) be seen as a bluish green scum on the surface of the water or the shoreline when the water is calm.
Skin and eye irritation is a common reaction. At stronger concentrations nerve and liver toxins may be present. Some people are more likely than others to suffer as a result of contact with blue green algae. Anyone who is aware that they are acutely allergic to blue green algae should avoid contact with the waters of Lake Ainsworth. To learn more about this organism, how it forms, and what it can do to you, visit the WaterNSW website.
Council follows the Guidelines for Managing Risk in Recreational Waters (National Health and Medical Research council NHMRC, 2008) for recreational water when determining whether health warnings are necessary.
The signs are removed when two consecutive weekly samples of blue-green algal concentrations fall below the NHMRC guideline levels, and slicks and/or scums are no longer present.
Sampling is undertaken by Council’s environmental health officers in accordance with NHMRC guidelines and are analysed by a NATA accredited laboratory. Results are generally available within 24 hours. Testing is generally carried out weekly between October and April and sampling may be increased to several times a week when algae blooms appear imminent or are in progress.
Council is operating the aerator 12 hours a day from October to April 2024/2025. The aerator circulates the water to prevent the Lake stratifying, which is thought to help minimise algae blooms.
Lake users should take note of any on-site warning signs and report algal blooms which may appear like a green paint spill on the surface of the water to:
1800 999 457