A Solution
The solution was proposed after a number of studies including those of environmental scientists Professor Arthur McComb and Ernest Hodgkin who identified that the cause of the blooms were the phosphorus load in the water which had come from run-off associated with agricultural and industrial practices in the catchment area. They formed the conclusion that altered procedures for applying fertiliser would improve the estuary, but that a dramatic improvement in the short-term would only be achieved by cutting a new channel to the ocean.
The proposed channel would increase water exchange between the estuary and the ocean to facilitate the flushing of nutrients from the estuary out to sea, and would increase the salinity to levels that would restrict germination and growth of the blue-green algae. A daily tidal movement of about 1 metre assisted the flushing process.
The solution also included widening and deepening of the natural estuary opening into the sea near the Mandurah township.
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