Researchers found rain flushed out Albert River during months of sewerage spill

The impact on fish of the shocking sewer spill in to the Albert River has been revealed in a new report.

The Albert River sewer spill decreased oxygen to “extremely low levels” negatively impacting stationary animals like molluscs and causing fish to swim away.

The City of Gold Coast’s “summary findings” of a Griffith University study shows the spill in January to April provided no evidence of long-term environmental impacts with the waterway recovering to normal levels.

Strong rainfall at the time was a key factor, flushing the river which joins Moreton Bay.

An investigation and findings by the State Environment Department - which described council’s system breakdown as a “catastrophic failure” - are yet to be released.

Griffith University researchers found:

* shore crabs sampled after the spill had higher levels of contaminant accumulation (particularly manganese) than those upstream of the spill and from the upper Logan River;

Sewer spill in the Albert River at the northern Gold Coast. This is water overflow in a drain.

* Metals were detected in the sediments of the lower Albert River but mostly this contamination was below guidelines, and likely due to long-term accumulation rather than from the spill - some were above relevant guidelines;

* low concentrations were found of most PFAS-related chemicals although above the most conservative guidelines for fresh and marine waters. However, researchers say after dilution, would have posed a low risk to the environment;

* At this time there is no evidence of an ongoing impact of the spill on nutrient levels, but monitoring will continue;

* Recreationally and commercially valuable fish and mud crabs collected after the spill did not have high concentrations of PFAS chemicals or metal contaminants in their tissues.

City of Gold Coast acting CEO Alisha Swain said the final summary conclusions from Griffith indicated the Albert River recovered quickly.

“The advice we received at the time was the significant flows were likely to have diluted the spill, delaying its detection and also lessening environmental impacts. It is a relief this is the case,” Ms Swain said.

Sewer spill in the northern Gold Coast at the Albert River. Signage put up by the Gold Coast City Council.

“However, we know the low dissolved oxygen in the river as a result of the spill would have impacted immobile animals in the local vicinity.

“We also know there was a significant failure in our systems and remain focused on implementing recommendations from the earlier independent investigation which we released to the public.

“The City is committed to rigorous and continual improvement across all areas and committed to applying lessons learnt to prevent future incidents.”

Ms Swain said the City would continue to closely monitor the river and had already undertaken audits of the key infrastructure in the northern Gold Coast.

“We continue to co-operate with the State Government investigation into the spill and will continue to share all updates with our community via our website.”

The Bulletin in early April exposed how the pipe — a sewer rising main crossing the Albert River just east of the Pacific Motorway linking to Logan’s Beenleigh treatment plant - was leaking untreated effluent

Each day two Olympic-sized swimming pools of filth went undetected into the river from January 11 to April 8.

The Albert River sewer leak caused by a cracked Gold Coast City Council pipe - this is the investigation scene.

Consultants AECOM in a report for council found the pipe which leaked sewage for three months into the Albert River had failed multiple times, including nine days before it cracked, according to investigators.

They also discovered flow meters installed at a nearby pump station were removed earlier. This flow technology checks the daily amount of wastewater through the pipes and its data captures significant decreases.

Despite these failings, the city’s expenditure on wastewater assets was halved, which meant fast-forwarding a new northern treatment plant did not occur, nor more staff inspections on the faulty pipeline network.

The Albert River sewer leak - this is the hole in the Gold Coast City Council pipe which broke.

Gold Coast was spending three to four times less annually than neighbouring local authorities, despite a population explosion in the city’s north and infrastructure delay which saw neighbouring Logan City treat Gold Coast waste from Stapylton, Yatala and Ormeau.

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Originally published as Researchers found rain flushed out Albert River during months of sewerage spill