High levels of toxic algae have forced authorities concerned to discourage swimming in Lake Eppalock, but the waters would remain open to boating, fishing and sightseeing. Though the toxic level had been rising for some time, it reached alarming high this week.

While the ingestion of the toxic water may lead to nausea and vomiting, mere contact with algae may result in skin irritation, sore eyes, ears and nose.

Confirming that the lake was open for activities other than swimming, acting infrastructure General Manager Andrew Reynolds said, “We’ve identified some high levels in the last couple of days,” he said. “We’ve been monitoring for a while but it has only just reached high alert level where it is potentially dangerous to people and stock”.

The threat, however, has not affected accommodation providers around Lake Eildon, as only a small number of cancellations have been reported because of blue-green algae in the lake.

Claiming that this summer has been its best in several years, Don Hewitt from the Eildon Caravan Park said it is fully booked for the rest of the month. He, however, confirmed that he received a few calls enquiring about algae, resulting which some bookings were cancelled. “The people that come here have been coming here, a lot of them, for years”.