Streamwatch volunteers Ann and Russel Brown save Thornleigh’s Larool creek from pollution

STREAMWATCH volunteers Ann and Russell Brown visit Larool Creek at Thornleigh regularly, so when a strange odour and colour started seeping from a drain pipe, they knew what to do.

Ann and Russell Brown are streamwatch volunteers at Larool creek in Thornliegh which they found out was polluted. Picture: Adam Yip / Manly Daily

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STREAMWATCH volunteers Ann and Russell Brown visit Larool Creek at Thornleigh regularly, so when a strange odour and colour started seeping from a drain pipe, they knew what to do.

Ann, 76, and Russell, 79, have volunteered for the organisation since 2005 and regularly test the creek behind their home to ensure it is healthy.

“Last week we were working to remove some bamboo alongside the creek and noticed that a stormwater drain was running steady for two or three days,” Mrs Brown said.

The lack of rain triggered her curiosity.

“The next day the creek water looked rather brown, so I went down to have a look and started to smell unusual odours,’’ she said.

Ann Brown who is a streamwatch volunteer at Larool creek in Thornliegh which they where she found out was polluted. Picture: Adam Yip / Manly Daily

Mrs Brown contacted Streamwatch and Sydney Water to report the discolouration and odour, which was revealed to be sewage leaking from a nearby storm water drain.

“Sydney Water were prompt, here within half an hour as a first response then they started remediation straight away,” she said.

‘They flushed the creek for 12 hours and stopped the sewage from getting further down into the creek and other parts of the bush and came back a week later to monitor again.”

Ms Brown said she knew exactly what to do because she regularly sampled the creek and sent results to Streamwatch to help monitor local waterways.

“We would encourage other residents to be vigilant and keep an eye out on your local creek,” Mrs Brown said.

Streamwatch program co-ordinator Cecil Ellis said the volunteer’s training and knowledge of the creek helped resolve the incident quickly.

To register as a Streamwatch volunteer, log on to australianmuseum.net.au/streamwatch

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