Gold Coast’s liveaboard boaties flushed out as red dye testing starts at Bum’s Bay on The Spit

Red dye will be used at ‘Bum’s Bay’ on the Gold Coast to track down the source of nasty pollution - and boaties will be moved on whether they like it or not.

Red dye will be added to the water at Bum’s Bay to determine whether sewage from boats is flowing out of the Marine Stadium into the Broadwater.

In a stunning move, the Bulletin has learned the Gold Coast Waterways Authority is not only removing liveaboard vessels moored at the Stadium but conducting a water tracing study.

Signage at the Marine Stadium, known as Bum's Bay, at The Spit, warning about anchor limits.

The popular boating and swimming area will see boats removed from Wednesday through to April 4 for field work to be conducted.

In a response to questions from the Bulletin, GCWA have said:

– notices were delivered to every vessel that was anchored in the area of the Marine Stadium on March 14 and signage put up in the precinct.

– the boat owners will need to make sure they have moved their vessels out of the Marine Stadium during this time. “If they fail to do so, GCWA will work with the boat owners to move the boats out of the designated area,” the spokesperson said.

– The Spit Master Plan implementation team is aiming to find a way to increase tidal exchange that in turn may improve water quality and the ecosystem health in the Marine Stadium.

An aerial photo shows Marine Stadium at The Spit.

– Investigations into the flow of water between Marine Stadium, The Spit, and The Broadwater will be conducted It involves a “small amount of water soluble, bright red dye” being released so scientists can track its circulation.

Asked if people can still keep swimming there, the GCWA spokesperson said: “The City of Gold Coast does not classify Marine Stadium as a bathing reserve.

“However, the red dye is classified as non-hazardous and considered safe for humans, wildlife, and plant. GCWA staff will be onsite during the field work to inform the general public.”

Boaties living on water to be booted out of ‘Bum’s Bay’

Earlier: Liveaboard boaties are about to be flushed out of ‘Bum’s Bay’ as authorities begin water testing of the Marine Stadium at The Spit.

In a move which will cause a stink with some owners of older boats, the Gold Coast Waterways Authority on Saturday issued a public notice which shows all watercraft must move out by 12pm on Wednesday.

Signage at the Marine Stadium, known as Bum's Bay, at The Spit, warning about anchor limits.

Watercraft owners cannot return to the popular mooring area until 8am on April 4.

Boat owners who ignore the order face a fine of $13,785 – and commercial operators can be penalised five times that amount. If any of the more than 30 boats anchored there remain, Waterways can seize their watercraft.

The Marine Stadium or ‘Bum’s Bay’ at the northern end of The Spit on the Gold Coast.

The water testing is being welcomed by community groups and occurs after the Bulletin last year detailed a report to council which showed the Marine Stadium received a suitability grade of “very poor” due to a microbial assessment category score D.

Families were being warned not to swim there and the Waterways Authority launched a broad community survey to seek feedback on the future uses of the popular swimming and boating area at the northern end off Doug Jennings Park.

Main Beach Association leader Sue Donovan told the Bulletin: “For some time the Main Beach Association has been advising council and the Gold Coast Waterways Authority that young families picnic and swim in the delightful area of the Marine Stadium, oblivious of the fact that sewage is being discharged into the water from the many ‘liveaboard’ boats at anchor.

An aerial photo shows Marine Stadium at The Spit.

“So we welcome the fact at last some action is being taken to monitor the water quality and hopefully find a solution to what poses a serious health hazard. A good start would be to enforce the regulations stated very clearly on the unmissable sign at the entrance to the Bay.”

Members of the community group believe boats staying for long periods entering the Marine Stadium should be required to have holding tanks.

If authorities are unable to police the boaties – a situation which has continued for decades – then the only alternative from a health perspective was to ban swimming.

The GCWA survey left it in the hands of ratepayers and boaties to decided the future use of the area.

Questions asked about the Marine Stadium include “should it be retained as an important anchoring destination?” and “could boats staying for longer than the required seven days be better managed?” Solutions include a booking system where fees can be introduced.

Another question asked was whether boaties should be provided with toilets, water showers and pump-out facilities. A question was asked on whether ratepayers pay, or should the boaties.

The Bulletin understands the GCWA board will meet on Monday night before a social media blitz is planned updating on boaties have to leave the Stadium.

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