Poo pollution in popular creek threatens famous platypus population
Faecal bacteria levels 80 times the safe limit in a popular platypus-watching creek threaten both wildlife populations and a $3 million tourism industry.
Washed up poo in a popular Atherton Tablelands creek is threatening local platypus populations and a $3 million tourism industry.
Yungaburra Landcare Group, who have long monitored the Peterson Creek and removed invasive aquatic weeds, have been collecting monthly water samples near Lake Eacham.
The group, which was concerned by an absence of platypus from the creek, has found faecal bacteria at more than 80 times the safe limit.
A YLG spokesman said the results pose potential risks to human health and platypus.
“Water-quality issues of potential concern for sustainable platypus populations include high turbidity, suspended solids and high concentrations of phosphorus, all of which have been shown to impact populations of aquatic insects and other invertebrates on which platypus feed,” the spokesman said.
“These results confirm previous findings from a 2019–2020 Tablelands Regional Council study.
“They show current water-quality objectives to protect Peterson Creek’s environmental values are far from being met.”
Peterson Creek is a popular platypus-watching site in Yungaburra.
Testing found thermotolerant coliforms and enterococci up to 93 and 82 times higher than the safe swimming limit.
The tests were funded by Landcare Australia and analysed by the Cairns Regional Council Laboratory
In July 2025, during the dry season, bacterial levels were 40 times the safe limit, according to YLG.
The spokesman said volunteers placed warning signs at Peterson Creek to alert visitors to the “serious health risks” from contact with the water.
The landcare group is urging Tablelands Regional Council and government agencies to investigate and address water-quality issues to protect platypus, visitors and the region’s tourism economy.
“They (the council) informed us they would not (install signs), so we told them we had an obligation to inform visitors to Peterson Creek about the potential health hazard and that we would put up signs,” he said.
“The TRC officers expressed no objection to us installing the signs.”
Platypus watching at Peterson Creek attracts about 60,000 visitors annually, contributing an estimated $3 million to the Tablelands economy, according to YLG.
A Tablelands Regional Council spokesman said the council was aware of water-quality issues and was supporting the volunteer monitoring program.
“Like all natural waterways, Peterson Creek can be affected by both human and natural sources of contamination,” he said.
“Especially after heavy rain, which can wash animal droppings, sediment, fertilisers, chemicals and, in some cases, sewage into the creek.”
Council said it was working with the landcare group to ensure environmental authorities are informed of the water-quality results.
The council will also support a new program to identify pollution sources and reduce contamination risks.
It has also launched a campaign to raise awareness of safe waterway use and will install new signage at popular swimming spots this summer.
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Originally published as Poo pollution in popular creek threatens famous platypus population
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