What should be the jewel of the south's business district is too oft stinky and is considered dangerous to health thanks to the continuing plague of blue-green algae.

Residents report that the problem is worse every year and plead with the ACT government to take decisive action on it.

The council has floated a new idea during the budget consultation process for long-term funds to be directly allocated to tackle the issue, but this is just the latest in a long line of pleas for help.

There is of course no easy solution to the problem but nonetheless it is a great challenge for the region.

The council said in November last year following a recent round of lake closures that the community's attitude towards the lake had changed drastically for the worse.

This was after unseasonable early blooms forced the cancellation of events and regular activities.

The blue-green algae problem is not unique to Lake Tuggeranong and causes annual issues with Lake Burley Griffin as well.

But the continual closure of the southern lake could conceivably damage the work the ACT government is doing to bring more people to the town centre.

At any rate it is an issue that will no doubt concern the hundreds of residents soon to move into the new lakeside development frontier of Southquay Greenway.

The sites on the western side of the lake have been sold and apartments and townhouses are rapidly rising and the government plans to sell blocks to developers along the eastern side next financial year.

The large influx of residents into the town centre when projects are completed will be welcomed to curb the dwindling population of Tuggeranong.

But that will also mean more people to complain when their idyllic lake views get on the nose.

A comprehensive plan to tackle the blooms should be an important consideration.