Gold Coast City council launches water testing site after incidents at Currumbin, Tallebudgera creeks

Council have begun sharing live water quality testing results with the public, eight months after a lifeguard at Tallebudgera Creek spotted human faeces in the water.

Council have begun sharing live water quality testing results with the public, eight months after a lifeguard at Tallebudgera Creek spotted human faeces in the water.

On Monday, Division 13 councillor Josh Martin announced the Gold Coast City Council had launched a website containing the data.

It comes after several incidents in the city’s south, including human faeces spotted in Tallebudgera Creek in November and a sewage leak at Currumbin Creek in December.

Gold Coast non-for-profit organisation Surfrider Foundation had been the only source for the public to access information regarding water quality, despite council doing regular testing.

Mr Martin said he raised the general business item with council in March after several complaints from residents.

Tallebudgera Creek was closed in November amid water quality concerns. Photo: Cathy Osborne

Division 13 councillor Josh Martin at Tallebudgera Creek

“The community can now see live results on water quality testing, pollution incidents and, a game changer, a predictor to see how the water quality might be,” he said.

“People can make an informed decision on whether the creek is an issue.”

Mr Martin said it was important to him for locals and those who are visiting the southern Gold Coast to leave with a pleasant experience.

“Currumbin Creek and Tallebudgera Creek are absolutely the lifeblood of our communities,” he said.

As of July 14, the site stated both Tallebudera Creek and Currumbin Creek as: “pollution unlikely, water quality is suitable for swimming. Enjoy your swim.”

Gold Coast City Council have opened a water quality testing site to the public. Photo of Tallebudgera Creek on July 14.

Along with Mr Martin’s announcement, MP for Burleigh, Hermann Vorster fronted media to show his support of a petition for a Tallebudgera Creek waterways management program.

The petition was calling for (GCCC) to: “acknowledge the environmental, cultural, social, recreational, and economic importance of the Tallebudgera Creek estuarine system; undertake a study to identify all stakeholders in the Tallebudgera Creek; consult the The State Government, all stakeholders, and the wider community to develop a Tallebudgera Creek management plan and support the work of environmental volunteers working within the waterway.

“Today, I am jumping in my wetsuit to draw attention to that consultation because we need more voices talking about Tallebudgera Creek,” Mr Vorster said.

Head volunteer Dr Sally Gregory said she goes diving in Tallebudgera Creek twice a week and had taken out more than 60,000 metres of fishing line, which was strangling marine habitats under the bridge.

Dr Sally Gregory and Burleigh MP Hermann Vorster at Tallebudgera Creek.

Dr Sally Gregory is behind the petition for a Tallebudgera Creek water management program

“I first discovered it on April 29, 2020 when we were in lockdown. I went for a dive under the bridge and it was an absolute labyrinth of hooks, lines, sinkers and there was animals hooked up in the lines,” she said.

“The main problem is fishing from the bridge, which is illegal. They are stripping the habitat from all the species.”

Dr Gregory said the petition had to be signed in person for council to consider the idea and urged those wanting join to visit the Koala Park cafe.

“There is an online petition as well, while that won’t count for council purposes it’s a good way for the community, wherever you are, to demonstrate your support.”

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Originally published as Gold Coast City council launches water testing site after incidents at Currumbin, Tallebudgera creeks