Stormwater ponds in the 6ha park at the centre of Albany are to be enlarged and reshaped as part of the soon-to-be developed Albany Lakes Reserve.

The stormwater ponds will be upgraded to create two lakes - an upper and lower lake - that will be separated by a weir and an over-bridge connecting two major squares within the reserve.

The council’s water services infrastructure planning manager, Jan Heijs, says the earthworks for the lakes could take up to six months to complete and will cost between $2.7m and $3.4m.

“The lakes’ primary function will still be to treat high volumes of rain runoff from hard surfaces before they discharge into our stormwater pipes, streams and the sea.

“They will also help control flooding and stream erosion, but aesthetically they will look like lakes and be far more attractive than the sedimentation ponds,” he says.

Two concepts for the design of the 40 to 60 metre lake over-bridge have recently been publicised for comment and people can find out more and have their say by visiting any North Shore library or area office, or by using the TouchPoll screen survey at Pak ‘n Save in Albany.

Construction of the Albany Lakes Reserve is expected to begin before Christmas.