Kellyville creek turns neon pink, Hills Shire Council investigates

A northwest Sydney creek sent residents into a flurry and left others scratching their heads after the water suddenly turned a neon shade of pink. This is what the council thinks happened.

A creek at Kellyville has transformed into a bright pink.

A creek in the Hills Shire has turned a mysterious shade of bright pink, with the council called to investigate.

The creek, near a scout hall on Acres Rd in Kellyville, was discovered by a passer by on Thursday morning. The council was alerted shortly after.

Pictures of the creek shared to social media sparked concerns from locals about the wellbeing of wild animals in the area, including a platypus community.

One resident questioned whether the cause was from washing paint brushes over a storm water drain, while another said the creek had turned “a rusty brown colour” near where he lived.

Newly elected Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne was quick to jump on the case, also alerting the council.

A creek in Kellyville, in the Hills Shire, turned bright pink. Picture: Facebook

“I don’t understand people who think it’s OK to pollute our creeks and waterways! That pink water is horrendous,” she said in a comment on Facebook.

“I have reported the creek to council officers. I will let you know the outcome.”

The creek returned to normal. Picture: Hills Shire Council

Ms Byrne later said the council staff believed the vivid pink was a dye called fluorescein, often used to trace plumbing connections and detect leaks.

She said the dye was not toxic or harmful to wildlife, and would quickly lose its colour with exposure to the sun.

A council spokeswoman said officers inspected the creek, but by that point the creek had returned to a more normal colour.

“The upstream local drainage system was checked, but no particular source was identified,” she said.

“It’s crucial to remember that all creeks and tributaries are part of a catchment, and anything within that catchment can flow into our creeks, potentially causing harm to the ecosystem and degrading water quality.

“Numerous stormwater drains channel run-off from homes, yards, businesses, roads, and urban areas into our creeks.

“We all play a vital role in safeguarding our environment by carefully monitoring what enters our drains.”