Fact sheet for local government
Lyngbya majuscula is a filamentous blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) presently occurring in bloom proportions in some areas of Deception Bay and Moreton Bay. The algae poses potential health risks as it contains toxins that can cause irritation of skin, eyes and the respiratory tract. The algae can grow attached to seagrass extending through and above the seagrass, and can float on the surface of the water with detached seagrass. Surface floating algae can wash up on beaches. Direct contact with Lyngbya should be avoided due to its irritant qualities.
Local government should remove washed up Lyngbya from beaches as soon as possible. Necessary precautions to minimise contact with Lyngbya during collection, transit and disposal operations should be taken.
Prior to disturbance of Lyngbya for collection, each collection site should be assessed in regard to wind direction, speed and likely down-wind recipients of any air-born material.
Collection and transportation
The Department of Employment, Training and Industrial Relations have prepared guidelines recommending precautions to be taken in handling Lyngbya from a workplace health and safety perspective. Details of the guidelines are available on the Department of Employment, Training and Industrial Relations website at www.detir.qld.gov.au/hs/safelink/medical/health06.pdf
Preliminary recommendations are that personnel working with Lyngbya should be advised to:
- operate vehicles with closed cabins (air on internal recirculation if possible) during transportation;
- remain upwind of the disturbance as much as possible;
- wear appropriate personal protective equipment including gloves, long sleeves and pants and safety glasses or masks depending on the level of contact expected;
- handle Lyngbya damp or wet (Lyngbya that has dried should be wet-down prior to disturbance to avoid particulate formation);
- transport Lyngbya only when the load is secured and covered; and
- refer any irritation resulting from contact to a doctor for medical treatment.
Permitting Requirements
The following guidelines for dealing with permitting requirements triggered by the clean-up of Lyngbya on beaches are provided to facilitate the removal process.
Environmental Protection Agency: Marine Park Permits - Marine Parks Act No Councils will require a Marine Parks permit to remove Lyngbya from foreshores of Moreton Bay Marine Park. Under section 118 and 126 of the Marine Parks Regulation 2006, permission is not required to enter a Marine Park for the purpose of saving a life or avoiding the risk of injury to a human being.
Since Lyngbya is viewed as potentially posing a significant public health risk, Councils may remove it without obtaining a Marine Parks permit.
Contact: QPWS, Marine Parks Planning & Permits, Miles Yeates (07) 3821 9022
Environmental Protection Agency - Beach Protection Act 1968 Works normally permitted under the Beach Protection Act associated with Lyngbya clean-up from beaches are authorised as emergency works. The clean-up of Lyngbya from foreshores may be immediately carried out by local government without a permit being held.
Contact: EPA, Coasts Wetlands & Waterways Paul Coughlan (07) 3227 8498
Department of Primary Industries: Queensland - Fisheries Act 1994 All marine plants are protected under the above legislation. Permits may be granted to remove Lyngbya from foreshores.
Where a public health or safety emergency situation exists, verbal approval may be granted to local governments to remove Lyngbya. For further advice contact Dr John Beumer, Department of Primary Industries, (07) 3224 2238.
Disposal
Environmental Protection Act - Waste Disposal Issues Local government landfills in areas affected by Lyngbya which have been assessed as technically suitable to receive Lyngbya contaminated waste (subject to local government approval and climate constraints) are:
- Redland Shire - suitable at Birkdale landfill
- Pine Rivers Shire - Dakabin is probably best equipped and centrally located site for region
- Caboolture Shire- Caboolture main landfill is the only licensed one
- Brisbane City - waste that is potentially problematic currently goes to Swanbank Ipswich
- Some smaller Local government operated landfill sites could possibly be utilised in emergency situations with good management and handling.
There is a need for consultation with the relevant local government landfill operator as to whether they are willing to accept Lyngbya and how much they are able to take.
Waste disposal issues to consider
The above assessment was based on:
- The area of potential concern being the mainland and islands in local government areas Redland, Pine Rivers, Caboolture, Caloundra and Brisbane.
- Lyngbya contaminated waste disposal is a putrescible waste to landfill type operation with burial and coverage required AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (similar to special burial).
Should Lyngbya appear in new areas, the assessment of local government waste disposal facilities may need to be expanded.
It was considered there was a need to avoid the use of most smaller landfill sites on the mainland area that are accepting only dry general waste streams. For example most older landfills that are closing down because leachate upgrading has been traded for management by accepting only dry non-odorous, non-landfill gas producing waste streams.
Issues that may require site specific consultation with EPA include:
- the need to dispose of Lyngbya could potentially be treated as an emergency (eg. managed outside current licence conditions) depending on the scale of the operation,
- disposal of waste from islands with either no landfill (eg. Moreton, Bribie) or dry general waste landfills only (eg. North Stradbroke) or small transfer stations (eg. Russell),
- the need to identify suitable quantities of waste for various sites; and
any proposed alternative disposal/emergency burial options would need risk assessment for contamination, water resources issues etc.
Contact: Murray Allen or Sinead Donnelly, Environmental Operations, Licensing (07) 3224 7099/3224 5642
Last updated: 28 September 2006
