At the time, residents reported sighting eastern long necked turtles poking through the algae, scores of pelicans were found to be picking up plastic bags, and a dead swan was even discovered on a back doorstep.

Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council closed the lake and committed to a clean-up, engaging Goulburn contractor Dredging Systems, to take on the task of removing sediment from the lake.

The six week clean-up project will see the removal of 1000m2 of sediment from the lake via an amphibious dredge, dropped into Lake Jerrabomberra on Tuesday afternoon, July 12.

Dredging Systems owner-operator Anto Pratten said his company specialised in a lot of dam, pond and lake clean-ups.

"For this particular job, we're doing a bit of an environmental clean-up around the outlets where the sediment is and we will be pulling out about a thousand cubic metres of sludge," he said.

The dredge will stay in the lake for another week and along with the sediment removal, council has committed to undertake periodic surface clean-ups of litter and will be working to prevent litter from entering the waterways.

A grant of $88,000 from the NSW Environmental Protection Agency has been received by council and will assist in ongoing maintenance and the funding of the Clean Waterways project in Jerrabomberra.

"Council and residents have been concerned with the condition of the lake," QPRC administrator Tim Overall said.

"The clean-up of Lake Jerrabomberra is a very welcomed project for council and we will assist in returning the lake to a healthy state."