Health alert as sewage spill becomes next threat for riverside homes

Queensland Health has warned of contamination in Oxley Creek after a sewage works overflowed

LEAKAGE of sewage into a major tributary of the Brisbane River has sparked a public health alert, intensifying the disease threat from disastrous flooding.

Queensland Health warned that the risk to human health from contamination in Oxley Creek was "high" after a local sewage works overflowed, dumping effluent into the waterway that cuts through 28 suburbs in Brisbane's west and empties into the river.

Testing had found that levels of enterococci bacteria -- a telltale sign of faecal contamination -- were 250 times higher than normal downstream of the Oxley sewage treatment plant. The works was damaged by flooding that inundated thousands of homes in Brisbane a fortnight ago.

Authorities warned people yesterday to stay away from Oxley Creek. Until the plant was repaired and "disinfection processes" restored, "contamination of the creek and risk to human health will continue to remain high", Queensland Health said.

Other problems are likely to emerge. "With lower dissolved oxygen in the water, the likelihood of fish kills is increased," said Peter Schneider, the chief executive of state agency Healthy Waterways.

"We can also expect to to see high levels of nutrients in algal blooms and following these blooms we are likely to see ongoing impacts to the health of the riverine environment."

The creek runs through thickly developed suburbs such as Corinda, Graceville and Sherwood.