Revealed: Tonnes of debris removed from Currumbin Rock Pools after several deaths
Concerned residents have demanded council make one of the Gold Coast’s most popular swimming spots safer after the tragic deaths of several people.
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Concerned residents had demanded the council launch an investigation and make one of the Gold Coast’s most popular swimming spots safer after several deaths there.
More signage and annual safety audits of the water and rock embankments around the Currumbin Rock Pools will occur after a clean-up of the waterway.
In the petition which was considered by councillors at a transport committee meeting on Tuesday, residents asked the council to prioritise the safety of locals and tourists.
“Over recent years eight people have lost their lives at the Rock Pool due to striking a submerged ledge of rock when jumping into the water. This is a great tragedy and must not occur again,” residents wrote.
The park associated with the Rock Pool is owned by the state government, but has been granted as trust land to the City for recreational purposes.
Police divers in April conducted an underwater survey and identified numerous submerged hazards including large trees, branches and rocks as contributing cause of injuries for swimmers and highlighted the need for additional signage.
Queensland Ambulance Service data shows from 2013 to 2023 there were 28 injuries related to swimming or jumping with all but one requiring QAS attendance.
QAS said 55 per cent of the incidents were reported as time critical life-threatening or Code 1 while 40 per cent required immediate urgent response.
Southern-based councillor Gail O’Neill said she was provided valuable information from the QPS and QAS. The City removed 12 tonnes of debris from the waterway.
“We all knew about the tragedies. There’s been a lot of injuries as well. It’s been way overdue for an investigation,” Ms O’Neill said.
While residents wanted the area to remain “natural”, there was a need for more signage.
“It’s up to us to make sure people are aware of the risks they are taking,” Ms O’Neill said.
The City is restricted in actions it can take because Currumbin Creek is subject to numerous state approvals to due to environmental issues.
“This includes the removal or modification of rock shelfs or any protected vegetation within the area,” a council officer report said.
Under existing laws, the removal of loose material including logs and branches from within the Rock Pool swimming area requires assessment on a case-by-case basis.
A risk assessment identified that new signage should be installed. An underwater survey consultant using an unmanned vessel with a multibeam echo sounder checked the pools in September.
The City’s Environment Heritage and Resilience team engaged a Geotechnical Engineer to conduct a risk assessment of the rock formations, and a number of hazards were identified
The Eastern embankments were deemed as a “moderate rockfall or landslip risk” but one section was regarded as high risk due to existing failures from “root jacking”.
Council officers have put up “Do Not Enter’ signage at this location until specialist contractors can attend the site to make safe. The logs, wire and branches were removed from the Rock Pool across several days of work.
Councillors ticked off on an annual monitoring program focused on under water debris, which can cost up to $20,000 annually to remove. Other technical assessments will cost about $35,000. The investigation has cost more than $70,000.
A teenager died in October last year at the popular swimming hole with emergency services pulling his body from the water several hours after he was reported as missing.
In 2016, a 41-year-old father died after leaping into the rock pools.
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