Terrigal water quality action group demands answers for sewage spill during race
People are demanding answers about how sewage was allowed to run into Terrigal Bay right through the busy Easter break — including for the annual ocean swim involving hundreds of people.
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Members of a Terrigal water quality action group are calling for answers and action after sewage spilt into Terrigal Bay for five days over Easter — including during the annual ocean swim involving hundreds of people.
The pollution was reported to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) on Sunday afternoon and Central Coast Council was contacted immediately.
Council confirmed to the EPA the spill was caused by a blocked sewer on “private land” which overflowed into the storm water system. The problem was fixed within 90 minutes.
Tony and Petra Horwood of Terrigal Haven Supporters Group now say they want to know how long council knew about the issue and why a warning was not issued to the surf club and signs put up to alert swimmers.
The couple — who both took part in the ocean swim event — said they knew of at least four people who had come down with ear, nose, throat and eye infections, which they suspect were a result of swimming in the polluted water.
Mr and Mrs Horwood said they first noticed a strong smell of sewer on Wednesday April 17 at a location known as “seven drains” where seven stormwater pipes discharge into the bay just up from the children’s rock pool.
The pair said water began to gush from one of the pipes at about 2pm in the afternoon despite no rain having fallen.
On the following Thursday they said “there was still a distinct smell of sewer” at the location.
On Friday a member of Terrigal Surf Lifesaving Club reported the water was “horrible for ocean swimming” with a “horrible smell in the air”.
On Saturday the pair took part in the ocean swim.
“My husband and I were both appalled about the murkiness and strange taste of the water and noted a very strong smell of sewer as soon as we entered the ocean directly in front of Terrigal Surf Club,” Mrs Horwood said.
“The smell and taste persisted all of the way along the beach toward the Haven and did not subside until we swam further offshore to the north east of the Haven,” she said.
On Easter Sunday the Horwoods — who have been trained by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage to do water testing as part of current efforts to determine why Terrigal’s water quality is so bad — did some sampling in front of “seven drains” where they said the “stench of sewer” was “incredibly strong”.
Mrs Horwood said the smell made her feel physically sick and caused her to gag as the
testing was carried out.
No worse than usual
Terrigal Surf Club Director of Surf Lifesaving John Deakin said the club had received a number of emails after the swim event complaining about the smell and taste in the water.
Mr Deakin said poor water quality was an ongoing issue at Terrigal — and it had not appeared worse than usual on the day of the swim.
“However, we’d obviously like the water quality to be the best it can be and we support local efforts to improve it one hundred per cent,” he said.
Reported to EPA
Another eyewitness Joy Cooper was so concerned about the apparent sewage spill she contacted the EPA late on Easter Sunday.
“On Sunday just before 5pm, I walked past the storm water drain on Terrigal Esplanade, near the children’s pool at the most Southern end of Terrigal Beach,” Mrs Cooper said.
“I noticed a large amount of water flowing from the northern most drain, which had a pungent sewer smell.
“The water was flowing reasonably fast and there was wash aways of sand on either side of the water flow.
“While there was a small amount of rain the night before, I knew this [amount of water] could not have been due to that.
“Knowing there has been an issue with water quality in Terrigal I called the EPA at 5:04pm.
“I was then contacted by Hamish Robertson at 5:22pm, from the EPA, and explained to him my concerns.
“Later that evening, at 7:01pm, I was contacted by Hamish again. He informed me that there was a business in Terrigal which had a blocked sewer pipe and as a result there was an over flow to the storm water.
“He said council had investigated and the blockage was cleared and it was on the section of pipe owned by the business, not the section owned by council, and that water testing would be done to ensure Terrigal Beach was safe to swim in.
“I believe the issue of water quality is an urgent matter for public safety.
“The beach was well patronised over the Easter break, by both tourist and locals. There was also an ocean race held by the Terrigal Surf Club on the Saturday where swimmers complained about the lack of visibility and the foul smell on the waters edge.
“Personally, I would like to know if I am swimming in polluted water and I am sure many others would also like to make their own decision,” Mrs Cooper said.
Central Coast Council has been approached for comments on the situation.
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