New 'Trash Rack' Installed at Lake Macquarie

BY TAHLIA HALE.

Lake Macquarie Council has installed a new device for catching rubbish at Winding Creek at Glendale.

The 'trash rack' is one of the largest in Australia and is trapping aluminium cans, plastic bottles and bags, and other waste before it enters our waterways.

The rack was installed after the discovery of large amounts of waste trapped within Winding Creek's mangroves.

Environmental Assessment and Compliance Officer Jason Parsons said the 'trash rack' uses specially designed vanes to divert water debris into a containment cell, without affecting the creek's water flow.

"The former trash rack was 25 years old and didn't effectively capture gross pollutants or sediments," said Mr Parsons.

Lake Macquarie City Council Ecosystem Enhancement Coordinator Symon Walpole said the 'trash rack' was one of a number of Stormwater Quality Improvement Devices (SQIDs) installed throughout the City.

"The installation and upgrading of SQIDs across the City is an important component of our water quality improvement program," said Mr Walpole.

"This program has seen significant improvements in water quality and the health of Lake Macquarie over the past 20 years."

Image: Lake Macquarie City Council