Home / Environment / Collie's Lake Kepwari: From Toxic Pit to Recreational Gem
Collie's Lake Kepwari: From Toxic Pit to Recreational Gem
1 Oct
Summary
- Western Australia's first successfully relinquished pit lake is now a vibrant recreational area.
- A historic flood event transformed the lake's water quality and ecosystem conditions.
- The site now attracts visitors for swimming, boating, and camping activities.
The former Western No. 5B (WO5B) coal mine in Collie, Western Australia, once a stark pit void, has been reborn as Lake Kepwari, a thriving recreational destination. This site, located approximately 160 kilometers south-southeast of Perth, is notable as Western Australia's first successfully relinquished pit lake.
Initial efforts to fill the 65-meter deep void rapidly using Collie River water achieved capacity by 2004. However, water quality issues, including low pH and a lack of phosphorus, emerged. A significant turning point occurred in August 2011 when heavy rains caused the Collie River South Branch to flood into the lake.
This natural event dramatically improved water quality and ecosystem conditions, inspiring a trial of a permanent flow-through system. Implemented in June 2019, this system uses seasonal river flows to neutralize acidity and improve downstream water quality, with monitoring showing upward pH trends.
Beyond environmental rehabilitation, Lake Kepwari has been developed into a recreation hub with a $5.7 million investment. Facilities include a swimming beach, picnic areas, and a campground. The lake, named "Kepwari" meaning "playing in water" in the Indigenous Wilman language, is part of the Collie River Waugal Aboriginal Heritage Site.
