Albany Creek residents demand action to protect creek from pollution that turned it bright red and as “white as a white car”

Albany Creek residents are demanding action to protect a creek they say has turned bright red and as “white as a white car” at various times because of pollution.

Bob Barclay, pictured with his dog Biggles, at a polluted section of sandy Creek, about 50m east of Old Northern Rd, where the water turned opaque. Photo: Glenn Roberts

Albany Creek residents are demanding action to protect a creek they say has turned bright red and as “white as a white car” at various times because of pollution.

The latest incident came on Wednesday last week when Sandy Creek, just east of Old Northern Rd opposite Woolworth’s Marketplace, turned a creamy colour.

Bob Barkley said the water was clear the day before, but had become opaque by the next morning and the usually plentiful small fish had almost disappeared.

Mr Barkley feared someone was dumping something into a storm water drain on the western side of Old Northern Rd, which flowed into to the creek under the road.

Water in the creek west of the road remained clear, he said.

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Peter Lutz, another concerned resident, said there was no rain that could have washed material into the creek at that time.

Mr Lutz feared for the turtles he saw there every day, as well as fish (rainbows and saw tails) that lived there.

He said Moreton Bay Regional Council should try harder to keep the creek free from pollution.

Mr Barclay said there had been several pollution incidents in recent years.

“This has been as white as a white car, the whole creek has been white, it’s been bright red, and another time it was absolutely full of cooking fat – really, really thick,” he said.

Someone had even witnessed a man pouring oil into it from a vehicle, and was threatened with physical violence, he said.

A council spokeswoman said its officers inspected the creek last Thursday, noting the water appeared to be contaminated, possibly by soap suds, flowing from a stormwater outlet.

“Additionally, a section of the creek nearest the eastern entrance to the culvert beneath Old Northern Rd had silted up,” the spokeswoman said.

“The source of the silt and water contamination is currently under investigation.

“Council is investigating options to remove the excess silt to improve the flow of water beneath Old Northern Rd.

“This waterway receives stormwater run-off from a large area of Albany Creek.

“Residents are reminded that chemical contaminants, including soaps and detergents, are not permitted to be discharged to roadside gutters or stormwater drains.”

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