The 8th ANZ Cyanobacteria Workshop was held at Monash University from Tuesday 26th to Wednesday 27th September 2023.

The 8th Australian and New Zealand Cyanobacteria Workshop, hosted by WaterRA, was held at Monash University from Tuesday 26th to Wednesday 27th September 2023, followed by an AquaWatch End Users Consultation Workshop on Thursday 28th September. 

Australian water sources, both natural and man-made, are regularly afflicted by cyanobacteria (blue-green algal) blooms, with the first known official report dating back to the 1800s.

Over the last two centuries, Australia has developed a vastly experienced and knowledgeable community of water supply managers, health officials, ecologists, modellers, toxicologists and other researchers in cyanobacterial identification and management.

In 2009 following particularly severe algal blooms along 1,000 kms of the Murray River, the First National Cyanobacteria Workshop was held in Parramatta, New South Wales.

Since the first iteration, the workshop has expanded to include New Zealand as well as Australia and has become an integral event on the global water calendar. The Australia and New Zealand Cyanobacteria Workshop is now held every second year providing a much-needed platform for researchers and managers in the health and water sectors; allowing them to meet, discuss current knowledge and share new findings and combine their expertise for national benefit.

The 2023 Workshop was a two-day in-person event hosted by the Department of Civil Engineering at Monash University with 30 presentations and 100 participants showcasing new research advancements and their potential applications to ensure the ongoing health of ecosystems and communities.

2023 Organising Committee

Nick Crosbie | Melbourne Water (Co-chair)
Arash Zamyadi | Monash University (Co-chair)
Suzie Sarkis | Department of Health, Victoria
Jennifer O’Connor | Department of Health, Victoria
Heather Lacey | Sydney Water
Vincent Bianchini | Water Research Australia
Linda Blackall | The University of Melbourne
Anusuya Willis | CSIRO
Susie Wood | Cawthron Institute
Michele Burford | Griffith University
Rita Henderson | UNSW
Anas Ghadouani | University of Western Australia
Tapas Biswas | CSIRO
Cami Plum | Monash University
Jessica Burgess | Water Research Australia

Presentations

 

KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS

 

The legacy of our cyanobacteria research | Michele Burford, Professor – Australian Rivers Institute, GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY

One Health and the future of cyanobacteria management | Rebekah Henry, Pathogen & Genomics Project Lead | MONASH UNIVERSITY

 

CHARACTERISATION & RISK


Mistaken identity: critical needs for improved taxonomic resolution to inform management responses to potentially harmful blooms

Glenn McGregor, Principal Scientist | QUEENSLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND SCIENCE


Genome evolution and long-term stress exposure increases toxin production in Raphidiopsis raciborskii

Anusuya Willis, Senior Research Scientist | AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL ALGAE CULTURE COLLECTION, CSIRO


Metagenomic insights into Cyanobacterial blooms triggered by climate warming in NZ’s freshwater lakes

Bharat Manna | UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND


Cyanotoxin uptake by food crops – what’s the risk?

Peter Hobson, Senior Scientist | SA WATER


Rapid characterisation and quantification of toxin producing cyanobacteria in limnic systems

Luke Zappia, Principal Engineering Water | WATER CORPORATION

 

DETECTION, IDENTIFICATION & REMOTE SENSING

 

The history and progress of integrating molecular cyanobacterial assays into water monitoring programs

Mark Van Asten, Managing Director | DIAGNOSTIC TECHNOLOGY PTY LTD / UNIVERSITY OF NSW


Individual-based modelling of cyanobacterial blooms

Mohammad Hassan Ranjbar, Research Fellow | AUSTRALIAN RIVERS INSTITUTE, GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY


Developing a sentinel script and framework to manage algae risk

Tracy Fulford, Regional Water Quality Advisor | WATERNSW


A mobile app for monitoring and forecasting cyanobacterial blooms

Mark Matthews, Founder & CEO | CYANOLAKES

 

SOURCE MANAGEMENT

 

Journey to the source of odour; dealing with extreme algal challenges

Florence Choo, Scientist | SA WATER


Micronutrient addition reduces macronutrients and cyanobacteria in raw water storage

Simon Tannock, Director | ALGAENVIRO PTY LTD


Validation of Mt Bold Aerator and downstream cyanobacterial benefits

Robert Daly, Senior Scientist | SA WATER

 

TREATMENT

 

SolarCyanoSlayer – An eco-friendly preventor of cyanobacteria blooms

AWA Stockholm Junior Water Prize winner 2023 Mikayla Rodger | MERIDEN SCHOOL NSW


Biological activated carbon for removal of taste and odour compounds

Rafael de Medeiros Paulino, Phd Candidate | UNSW SYDNEY


Application of algaecide to a BGA bloom in a drinking water storage

Phil Choi, Senior Environmental Health Scientist – Water | QUEENSLAND HEALTH


WILDCARD: Novel diagnostic tools

Aaron Jex, Lab Head | WALTER & ELIZA HALL INSTITUTE

 

MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Unexpected effects of nutrient starvation on Chrysosporum ovalisporum toxins

Michele Burford, Professor – Australian Rivers Institute | GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY


How can we more effectively predict and monitor algal toxins in the environment and in seafood?

Isabella Gore, Health Protection Officer | DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH VICTORIA


Cyanobacterial bloom management: Technology performance & optimisation assessments

Arash Zamyadi, Senior Lecturer | MONASH UNIVERSITY


Monitoring and Treatment of Cyanobacteria & Algae by Hunter Water

Vikas Shah, Treatment Engineer | HUNTER WATER


Relevance of the AquaWatch mission for cyanobacteria management

Tapas Biswas, Senior Research Scientist | CSIRO

 

EARLY CAREER RESEARCHERS 3-MINUTE PITCHES

Remote sensing of temperature and cyanobacteria in the natural water column

Carolyn Taylor, Postdoctoral Research Fellow | MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY


A multi-‘omics approach to cyanobloom profiling

Daniel Nebauer, PhD Candidate | UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE


Cold-plasma activated bubbles for the elimination of cyanobacteria in water treatment

Angelina, PhD Candidate | UNSW


Utilizing Australian Native Plants in Constructed Floating Wetlands to Remove Nutrients to reduce Cyanobacteria formation in Urban Stormwater

Thanusshan Packiyarajah, Higher Degree by Research Student | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA


Characterisation of Nodularia spumigena isolated from a recent bloom in Peterborough Coastal Reserve, Victoria

Isis Londono, Masters Student | AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL ALGAE CULTURE COLLECTION, CSIRO


High-level global assessment of integrated cyanobacterial management strategies

John Verhoeven, PhD Candidate | UNSW

Thank you to our event sponsors