Council responds to mysterious mass fish deaths in Palm Beach

Palm Beach residents have stumbled across ‘thousands’ of dead fish, stingrays and other marine life after a horrid smell consumed the suburb. Now council have explained what happened.

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Palm Beach residents have stumbled across ‘thousands’ of dead fish, stingrays and other marine life after a horrid smell consumed the suburb.

Palm Beach resident Laurinda Emerton was on her morning walk when she stumbled across “thousands of dead fish and manta rays”.

Thousands of fish have been found dead in Palm Beach

“Everything is dead,” Ms Emerton said.

“All the fish coming in and out of Currumbin Creek are dying.”

Palm Beach resident Tom Betts described it as a ‘large fish kill’ at Laguna lake in the heart of suburb.

“There are fish big and small washed up on the rocks, the smell is going all the way to the beach,” Mr Betts said.

Thousands of fish have been found dead in Palm Beach

“A local just pointed out a mud crab that was trying to get out of the water.

“If there was something dangerous in the water it could be getting flushed through to the beach.

“There are some local Palm Beach boys trying to capture fish that are still alive to transport them to Currumbin Creek.”

Local Palm Beach boys trying to rescue the remaining fish

Palm Beach resident Lorelle Wilson shared her concern for the smell on Palm Beach/Currumbin/Elanora Community page.

“Does anyone know where the sewage smell is come from? Can smell it at the beach also,” Ms Wilson said.

Another replied to her post saying “There are dead fish in Laguna Lake. Maybe a spill?”

A Gold Coast City Council spokesperson said earlier investigations indicate the odour and dead fish are a result of “a natural water inversion event within the lake”.

“This is due to the current cold weather event, which results in accumulated material and oxygen-depleted water from the bottom of the lake moving upwards through the lake,” the spokesperson said.

“Clean-up of the dead fish will commence later today.”

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