Perth sailing clubs stranded as lake stays locked by toxic algae
Jackadder Lake has been closed since January due to blue-green algae, leaving two sailing clubs without their home after decades of use.
Why it matters
Community groups lose vital gathering spaces while councils debate action. Excluded members face isolation during the extended closure.
In Australia. Perth residents have lost a decades-old community hub with no clear timeline for reopening, while the council delays spending decisions.
Key facts
- January
- Closure month
- 55 to 12 members
- Radio Club membership drop
- Since the 1970s
- Radio Club history
- 12 to 24 months
- Recommended monitoring period
- Jackadder Lake in Perth's Woodlands has been off-limits since January when water testing found potentially harmful blue-green algae.
- The Perth Radio Sailing Club dropped from 55 active members to just 12, while the Task Force 72 Model Boat Club lost most of its 12-15 members.
- The Perth Radio Sailing Club and Task Force 72 Model Boat Club sailed there for 20 years or longer.
- The City of Stirling commissioned an investigation recommending 12 to 24 months of monitoring, water testing and sediment surveys before any action.
- An urgent budget item for further investigation was noted in November but not yet funded.
- The clubs moved to alternative sites, some to salt water, which damages the boats' electronics, but some older members struggle to reach them.
