Murray Rose Pool closed to swimmers after 6000-litre fuel spill at Rushcutters Bay

REDLEAF Beach at Double Bay has been shut to swimmers after 6000-litres of diesel fuel was spilled in to Rushcutters Bay.

The leak at Rushcutters Bay occurred in front of the marina building.

REDLEAF Beach has been shut for swimming following a 6000-litre fuel spill at Rushcutters Bay earlier in the week.

The spill happened at d’Albora Marina on Tuesday and spokesman Tim Allerton said the company “sincerely apologises” for the major leak which occurred as specialist contractors were decommissioning an unused fuel tank.

The marina is currently being prepared for sale, along with others in the d’Albora portfolio.

Mr Allerton said staff were working with the Port Authority of NSW and the NSW Environment Protection Authority and notified Hazmat crews as soon as the leak was identified.

“We expect it will take a few days and we are throwing all of the resources we can muster at the problem,” he said.

It is understood most of the fuel has been contained at Rushcutters Bay but Woollahra Council has put up warning signs, telling people not to swim at popular Murray Rose Pool at Redleaf, where members of the public reported the smell of diesel fumes.

Marina staff and authorities are working to contain and clean up the spill.

Sydney Water have installed containment devices to stop the substance entering Parsley Bay.

At Rushcutters Bay a boom is containing the immediate area around the leaked inside the marina, white pads have been placed on the water to soak up the oil and machines are also being used to pump the fuel out.

Popular swimming spot Parsley Bay has been closed and containment devices installed.

The EPA is investigating the leak, which comes after decontamination had already begun on the marina site because of a leak which occurred under a previous owner.

Parent company Ardent Leisure had been preparing the marina for market, with the intention of selling its entire d’Albora portfolio for more than $100 million.

An unrelated sewerage leak has also caused the closure of Gibsons Beach, near Watsons Bay, and Parsley Bay as Sydney Water contractors work to repair the pipe.