The Tool Desk
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What went wrong at Maylands Lakes?
The City said the contractor did not correctly carry out the vegetation work on islands in Lake Brearley and Lake Bungana. In its account, “a number of endemic Melaleuca trees were pruned by the contractor in error,” and herbicide was applied without authorization to a number of Japanese pepper trees. The City did not identify the contractor by name.
The City said it consulted an independent arborist, who expected the affected Melaleuca trees to regrow within 12–24 months. That was a forecast, not confirmation of later regrowth. The City also said it was considering endemic planting and irrigation to help the trees thrive, and that it would not engage the contractor again. City of Bayswater project update.
Why was vegetation being pruned?
The City’s stated purpose was to deter cormorants from nesting on the lake islands. It said guano adds nutrients to the lakes and that limiting this source could reduce further nutrient inputs. Its notice said contractors would prune vegetation to one metre, with work beginning on 20 January 2025 and continuing into February. The City also planned to plant local native species in winter 2025. City of Bayswater works notice.
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PerthNow reported that Infrastructure and Assets Director Luke Botica said a consultant estimated cormorant guano accounted for about 30 per cent of Lake Brearley’s nutrient load. This is a consultant estimate as reported by the newspaper, not a directly measured or independently verified figure. PerthNow’s report on residents’ concerns.
What residents objected to
PerthNow reported a 99-signature petition asking the City to postpone pruning until there was evidence that cormorants were significantly contributing to poor water quality. Resident Alexander Watt warned that clearing the islands could damage habitat for local birds, turtles and other fauna. Those concerns raised questions about both the strength of the water-quality case and the ecological cost of removing vegetation.
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The City’s own earlier update said WA Health had assessed sampling results and identified high cyanobacteria levels in Lake Brearley and Lake Bungana. It said the conditions were unsuitable for activities involving direct contact or ingestion risk; the lakes were not used for drinking or recreation, and signs advised people to avoid contact with the water. The update supplied no numeric cyanobacteria readings. City of Bayswater water-quality update.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the work fits the restoration program
The pruning was one element in a wider, contested water-quality program. Council endorsed preparing a Maylands Lakes Environmental Restoration Masterplan in April 2024. The City’s procurement for the vegetation work began with requests for quotes in July 2024, which closed in August. According to the Chief Executive Officer’s answer at the 28 January 2025 council meeting, a draft agreement was prepared in October and signed at the end of November. Vegetation removal was raised at a community forum on 12 December, though residents later disputed how clearly they understood that the work would go ahead. The council record said the work order had been issued about two weeks before the 28 January meeting. City of Bayswater council agendas and minutes.
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In April 2025, Council endorsed a restoration concept report, and the City’s draft 2025/26 budget included $2.4 million for 14 Phase 1 projects. The City described proposed measures including a pumping system to recirculate Lake Brearley water and a wetland at Brickworks Lake to filter and treat water entering the lakes. It estimated Phase 1 would take about 18 months to two years. These were program plans and estimates, not proof that the pruning improved water quality or that every project was completed. City of Bayswater April 2025 council materials.
On 23 June 2026, Council endorsed a Landscape and Water Quality Plan, which the City describes as a staged framework for landscape and infrastructure improvements intended to support water quality and ecological health while maintaining community amenity and access. That later planning update does not establish that the affected trees recovered or that the earlier implementation error was resolved. City of Bayswater project page.
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What is known—and what remains unconfirmed
- Confirmed by the City: endemic Melaleucas were pruned in error and herbicide was applied without authorization to Japanese pepper trees.
- Expected, not verified: an independent arborist forecast Melaleuca regrowth within 12–24 months. The reviewed City updates do not report a confirmed survival or regrowth result.
- Not established in the available accounts: a measured water-quality benefit from the pruning, numeric cyanobacteria results, or the contractor’s identity.
- Still contested: the balance between reducing nutrients attributed to cormorants and protecting island habitat, alongside questions about evidence, oversight and communication.
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