Environmental impact of North East Link toll road revealed

Construction of tunnels for the North East Link could cause "stress and degradation" to parts of the Yarra River and its tributaries, the Andrews government has conceded.

And at least two creeks are in danger of becoming concrete drains in sections because of the road works.

The potential impact of the toll road has been revealed for the first time in documents filed by the Andrews government with the federal environmental department.

Read the story by Clay Lucas in today’s Age - “Environmental impact of North East Link toll road revealed.”

A Melbourne, Australia Lake Has Turned Bright Pink But You're Not Allowed To Swim In It

A lake in Melbourne has turned a brilliant, bright pink and has delighted locals, after a perfect storm of high temperatures and low rainfall came into play.

Melbourne's Westgate Park Lake has
 turned pink, but you can't swim in it.

The salt lake in Westgate Park, just off the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne's centre, can turn a vivid pink or red colour during the warmer months.

Parks Victoria said the unusual colour is down to a mix of high salt concentration, high temperatures and little rainfall affecting the algae in the water.

"Algae growing in the salt crust at the bottom of the lake produces the red pigment (beta carotene) as part of its photosynthesis process and in response to the extremely high salt levels," Parks Victoria said in a Facebook post about the brilliant colour change.

Read The Huffington Post story - “A Melbourne, Australia Lake Has Turned Bright Pink But You're Not Allowed To Swim In It.”