Currumbin Creek: Warning against swimming after sewage leak into popular waterway

Council are warning Gold Coast residents not to swim in beaches and waterways, including Tallebudgera Creek and Currumbin Creek, after heavy rain.

Council are warning Gold Coast residents not to swim in beaches and waterways, including Tallebudgera Creek and Currumbin Creek, after heavy rain.

On Monday, a Gold Coast City Council (GCCC) spokesperson released an update regarding a sewage spill impacting Currumbin Creek.

A sewerage main is believed to have been damaged during construction works on the M1 near Duringan St in Currumbin last Wednesday, but the water has now been given the all clear.

“The remaining signage in front of the Currumbin RSL will be removed as Currumbin Creek is no longer impacted by the sewage spill,” the GCCC spokesperson said.

Despite the good news, council are continuing to urge residents to “avoid swimming” in waterways such as Tallebudgera Creek and Currumbin Creek for at least three days after heavy rain.

Gold Coast non-for-profit organisation Surfrider Foundation sampled water at four spots including near Currumbin RSL, Winders Park, the mouth of Currumbin Creek and at The Alley. Photo: Instagram

Gold Coast non-for-profit organisation Surfrider Foundation sampled water at four spots including near Currumbin RSL, Winders Park, the mouth of Currumbin Creek and at The Alley. Photo: Instagram

They also advised visitors to not swim at any Gold Coast beaches for at least one day after heavy rain.

The warning comes as the Gold Coast was expected to receive up to 25mm of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Over the weekend the Currumbin Creek catchment experienced significant rainfall and we remind the community that there is a strong link between rainfall events and the health of our waterways,” the spokesperson said.

“As a precaution we recommend to always avoid swimming: for at least one day after heavy rain at open beaches; for at least three days after heavy rain at rivers, lakes and estuaries, such as Currumbin Creek; in water that looks discoloured, murky, or smells unpleasant; near stormwater drains.

“We thank the community for their patience.”

Gold Coast non-for-profit organisation Surfrider Foundation shared a post to Instagram calling for a thorough investigation into the sewage spill, and for those responsible to be held accountable.

On Saturday, the foundation sampled water at four spots including near Currumbin RSL, Winders Park, the mouth of Currumbin Creek and at The Alley.

Gold Coast non-for-profit organisation Surfrider Foundation sampled water at four spots including near Currumbin RSL, Winders Park, the mouth of Currumbin Creek and at The Alley. Photo: Instagram

Gold Coast non-for-profit organisation Surfrider Foundation sampled water at four spots including near Currumbin RSL, Winders Park, the mouth of Currumbin Creek and at The Alley. Photo: Instagram

The samples measure the amount of enterococcus bacteria in the water, which indicated human and animal faecal contamination.

“(Three of the locations) recorded high results,” their Instagram post said.

“We only saw warning signage at the Currumbin RSL, with swimmers at Winders Park and hundreds of beachgoers at The Alley likely unaware of the risks.

“Swimming in water contaminated with faecal pollution can lead to illness, with symptoms including gastrointestinal illness, ear infections, skin rashes and potentially worse.

“Sewage spills in our waterways is unacceptable.

“A thorough investigation should be undertaken and all parties held responsible.

“Given the multiple events in the past year, regulators need to make an example of the poor behaviour as the community expects better.”

‘Permanent sewage ponds’: Residents furious over leak

Gold Coast residents say they are “sick of not being able to swim in our own backyard” after a “disgusting” sewerage spill at Currumbin Creek.

On Thursday, a Gold Coast City Council (GCCC) spokesperson shared a statement urging residents to avoid swimming at Currumbin Creek after a sewerage main was broken upstream.

The spokesperson said the break was detected by City officers on Wednesday night on Duringan St in Currumbin after it had been damaged by construction work on the M1 upgrade.

While the officers were able to repair the break on Wednesday night, the spokesperson said “sewage had flowed into Currumbin Creek”.

Division 14 councillor Gail O’Neill said she was aware sewage had also spilt into the Currumbin RSL carpark.

“As a cautionary measure, the City is advising members of the public to avoid using Currumbin Creek for recreational purposes downstream from the spill site adjacent to the Currumbin RSL while further testing is undertaken,” she said.

The warnings come less than two months after faecal bacteria was found at Palm Beach Parklands, which is known for its dog-friendly beach, paddle boarding and swimming.

It was understood the high volume of bacteria in the water was the result of recent storms on the Gold Coast.

Currumbin Creek: Warning against swimming after sewage leak into popular waterway

Failed division 14 candidate Kath Down shared a post to social media on Friday morning stating “enough is enough”.

“Currumbin Creek has been in crisis for too long,” she said.

“Industrial areas upstream and repeated sewage spills are pushing us to the brink.”

Ms Down pushed for council to “prioritise the health and wellbeing of the community”.

“The problems at Currumbin Creek are just the tip of the iceberg,” she said.

“Our swimmers are getting sick, divers are developing rashes and our precious waterways are in jeopardy.

“Why do tourists visit the Gold Coast? Because of our stunning waterways, beaches and amazing hinterlands that are now in dire straits.”

Residents have responded in outrage and said it felt like warnings had become more frequent.

“This never happened years ago,” Amanda Trew said on Facebook.

“It’s disgusting that it keeps happening.

“I’m sick of not being able to swim in our own backyard.

“Once it was such a beautiful beach you could swim at anytime.”

Others said that Currumbin Beach and Tallebudgera Creek were “pretty much permanent sewage overflow ponds”.

“Such a shame that the most beautiful parts of this area are contaminated so often now. Progress I think they call it,” Shekinah Leigh said.

‘Avoid swimming’: Sewage leak at popular Gold Coast beach

Gold Coasters have been warned against swimming in one of the city’s most popular waterways after a sewerage leak.

The council is blaming construction of the M1 upgrade for a sewerage main break on Currumbin’s Duringan St on Wednesday night, causing some sewerage to flow into nearby Currumbin Creek.

A council spokeswoman said the sewerage had entered the water despite city staff stopping and containing the leak.

“Although all site inspections carried out this morning suggest creek conditions appear normal, signage has been placed in the direct vicinity of the spill site, adjacent to the Currumbin RSL, while further testing is undertaken,” she said.

A bird at Currumbin Creek. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“In an abundance of caution, the City recommends avoiding swimming in the Currumbin Creek downstream from the spill site until test results are received tomorrow.

“We will keep the community updated”.

It is the second major sewerage leak into a Gold Coast waterway in the past year.

Tallebudgera Creek was closed between Schuster Park and Tallebudgera Creek Beach near the Neptune Royal Surf Life Saving Club after a sewage spill was discovered in December 2023.

It reopened just days later after water quality testing was completed.

In April it was revealed a sewer rising main, linked to Logan’s Beenleigh treatment plant, was leaking untreated effluent.

Each day two Olympic-sized swimming pools of filth went undetected into the river from January 11 to April 8.

The state Environment Department (DESI) described council’s system breakdown as a “catastrophic failure”.