Make Hamilton Lake swimmable again, says group

Thursday, 23 January 2025

From left are Hepara Isaac of Whakamana ki Rotoroa, Go Eco operations manager, Kelli Pike, Hamilton City Councillors Anna Casey-Cox and Tim Macindoe and Felicity Beadle of Whakamana ki Rotoroa.

Making Hamilton’s Lake Rotoroa swimmable again seems impossible to some, but a group of passionate locals say it can be done.

Whakamana ki Rotoroa, Go Eco, Hamilton City Council, Waikato Regional Council and Mana Whenua Ngāti Wairere are joining forces to improve the water quality of the lake, but it’s the dream of making it swimmable again that is the driving force.

Felicity Beadle is part of Whakamana ki Rotoroa, and says it’s a “travesty” that the lake is not swimmable, and the city has “turned its back” on the natural taonga.

“It’s summer and you can’t even swim in it.”

Lake Rotoroa hasn’t been swimmable since the 1960s.

The group has been advocating for the lake since 2014, but progress has been slow.

Just last year, a public planting day at the lake’s edge was cancelled due to an algae bloom which made standing in the water’s edge unsafe.

Hamilton Lake (Lake Rotoroa), circa 1927. HCL_01021

Hamilton City Councillor Anna Casey-Cox said Hamilton City Council is investing new water monitoring equipment, which will provide information about the lake’s water quality.

Hamilton City Council staff confirmed the lake monitoring equipment would cost $112,000, plus associated installation costs of $16,000.

Casey-Cox says the “dream” of a safe, swimmable lake is starting to gain momentum.

“There is a real need for outdoor swimming spaces in Hamilton and safe ones, and I think the lake offers that.”

“A lot of kids don't get to go to the beach, so it's a really accessible free place to swim, and that's huge.”

In the 1960s people would picnic on the lake shore, and there was a slide into the lake and changing sheds. HCL_03232

Tim Macindoe, Hamilton East Ward Councillor, says part of the problem has been dealing with the idea that the lake can’t be fixed.

“Part of the perception is that it can’t be done, but we know it can be done.”

“It can be made swimmable, and we need more to come on board,” said Macindoe.

Canada Geese are a major problem for the lake, adding nutrients and harmful bacteria such as e Coli, campylobacter and salmonella.

The lake was once swimmable, with hundreds flocking to the lake over summer up until the 1960s when things took a turn for the worse.

The degradation began with oxygen weed invading. The council at the time used toxic chemicals containing arsenic to try control the weed, but this had an impact on the lake too.

Since then, pest fish, birds, urban intensification and stormwater run-off have all taken a toll.

Casey-Cox says the regional council has hired contractors to control the Canada geese population, but it’s proving challenging. Tracking collars are used to follow the birds to a safe place to shoot them but, within a week, more birds are back.

The lake is also part of the council’s Nature in the City programme, which has funded lake planting days.

Casey-Cox says addressing stormwater is “the next big thing”.

“Stormwater is a huge part of what council is tasked with managing, and this is one of our big stormwater catchments.”

Beadle says they need philanthropic funders who are active in the community and care about the lake to come to the table too.

“We really need them to migrate now to this project and come together on it.”

Next steps for the project include a restoration plan which will help bring the Waikato River Authority on board, says Casey-Cox.

Clarification:** An earlier version of this story included a figure provided by councillor Anna Casey-Cox for the cost of lake monitoring equipment that was incorrect.**