MI’s use of ultrasound units to control blue-green algae

Mr Sainty’s letter stated envirosonic ultrasound units used by MI to control blue-green algae are “totally impractical”, and MI are only trialling the technology because they want to be seen to be doing something.

Mayor John Dal Broi refuted this, saying it’s early days but initial signs are positive. 

“There is evidence it is having some effect in controlling the blue-green algae… there’s a long way to go, but there is evidence of success”. 

Appointment of a Lake Wyangan project officer 

Mr Sainty also criticised the proposed appointment of a council project officer to oversee lake issues – saying it’s something that has been repeatedly promised.

Cr Dal Broi said this is the first time they’ve resolved to do this, and it was only decided at the most recent meeting of council’s Lake Wyangan and Catchment Management Committee.

“This will be a new position… it hasn’t been adopted by Council but I’m confident [it will]”  

Applying Shepparton solution to Lake Wyangan 

Mr Sainty said the principles applied to fixing Victoria Park Lake in Shepparton can be applied to Lake Wyangan. 

Cr Dal Broi said it’s not so simple, as Lake Wyangan is much bigger and also used for different purposes. 

“There’s no water skiing on Lake Victoria, and at times there’s no swimming… so the use of that lake is totally different to what Lake Wyangan is used for,” 

“{Also] in a long standing agreement with horticultural farmers in the region, we have to accept drainage water from their properties”.

Brian Simpson “dumped” as committee chair

Mr Sainty said the mayor should not be leading the Lake Wyangan Committee.

“Councillor Simpson who heads up the Wine Grape Marketing Board should be reinstated after he was unceremoniously dumped as the lake committee Chairman and the Mayor installed himself, ” he said. 

Mayor John Dal Broi said, “I refuted that outright”. 

“From the inception of that committee I always chaired it, I have been the inaugural chair of that committee”.

He said Brian Simpson only filled in for him when he couldn’t attend a meeting.

Council voting down motion to adopt Mr Sainty’s plan

Mayor John Dal Broi also responded to criticism of Council for voting against a motion to contract Geoff Sainty and adopt his plan to fix Lake Wyangan.

“There are some good aspects to the plan, but there are some that would be very costly to implement,” he said. 

Cr Dal Broi said in local government, you can’t just adopt a plan without costing it – as ratepayers money is being used. 

“We need to first cost his plan to fix the water”.