Winton, QLD

[Michael Honeyman <>]

Very much depends on the site Peter!

And to an extent also depends on who you ask. I’ve worked on jobs where 
previous advice given was along the lines of ‘fill it all in and build a big 
automated plant’ and been able to recommend minor changes that kept the lagoons 
in situ with minor modifications. 

That said vegetation to any significant degree usually risks the integrity of 
the lining of the pond, and whether 500 rhizomes or 250 rhizomes are starting 
to penetrate the liner is academic - they all have to come out to protect the 
liner.

Another factor is that ponds (usually over many years) accumulate sludge as 
part of the way they operate and this needs to be periodically dug out one way 
or another. If the reeds are growing in the sludge then again, they have to 
come out.

This is all speculation on my part of course, just trying to give some context 
as someone experienced in the design and operation of treatment lagoons before 
the birding community shoots from the hip at too many council employees. In the 
unique situation of being both qualified as an engineer and qualified as an 
ornithologist!

mjh

> On 8 Aug 2018, at 20:52, Peter Shute <> wrote:
> 
> Are compromises feasible, Mike? Eg just remove half the reeds?
> 
> Peter Shute
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
>> On 8 Aug 2018, at 6:47 am, mike.honeyman <> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi allThere is mention of the 'old' treatment ponds, was this a current 
>> active treatment plant?
>> Excessive vegetation in treatment lagoons is not condusive to their primary 
>> purpose - treating sewage - so if they were active lagoons there may have 
>> been a need to have removed the veg to ensure it was working effectively.I'm 
>> not personally familiar with this site, but have consulted on other sites 
>> where the lagoons had reeds encroaching and the reeds have generally had to 
>> go, birds or not.
>> mjh
>> null
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