Rose Bay Beach: Human faeces causing a stink at Sydney Harbour beach
It is one of the country’s most exclusive suburbs and therefore its beach should be pristine. But something has been causing a stink down at Rose Bay Beach for some time. Now experts have got to the bottom of it – and it’s what everyone feared.
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It is one of the most exclusive suburbs in Sydney, if not all Australia.
So its beach should be pristine.
But for many years something has been causing a stink down at the harbourside of Rose Bay.
University boffins have finally got to the bottom of it. And yes, it is what everyone feared: Human faeces.
The results of extensive testing and studies by the NSW Government and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have been released today (Friday).
Using state-of-the-art scientific techniques, they have proved that microbial pollution at Rose Bay Beach is largely the result of human faecal matter contaminating stormwater during wet weather.
The investigations found there was also a contribution from dog faeces – likely washed from the catchment during wet weather.
A minimal amount of bird faeces was also detected but human waste was by far and away the biggest contributor.
Member for Vaucluse Gabrielle Upton MP, who got the research underway with a $150,000 NSW Government grant, said now the cause is known they could work on fixing the problem.
“I set up the Rose Bay Beach Working Party together with local residents, Woollahra Council, Sydney Water, Transport for NSW (Maritime) and the Department of Environment, Energy & Science because of our concern about the poor water quality at the Beach,” she said.
She added: “Now we know the causes of the poor water quality, I look forward to continuing to work with Woollahra Council Mayor Susan Wynne and the Rose Bay Beach Working Party to take the necessary steps to improve the recreational water quality at our beautiful and popular beach.”
Mayor Susan Wynne said the council and partners would now work quickly to fix the issue.
“The government funding which assisted in identifying the source of the pollution will help focus our attention on the key issues and will importantly benefit our community and the local environment.”
The report, accompanying the results of the testing, states that swimmers should take care until the issue is fixed.
In particular locals are advised to avoid swimming at Rose Bay during and up to three days after rainfall. They are also advised to avoid swimming near flowing drains and to avoid swimming if there are signs of stormwater pollution such as discoloured water, odour or street litter floating in the water.
Read the report in full here