Faecal bacteria found in Gold Coast waterways

Faecal bacteria has been found in four popular swimming spots on the Gold Coast as experts warn the community to stay alert.

On Friday, non-for-profit organisation Surfrider Foundation volunteer Harry Gordon said they held their monthly “sampling event” where they test the water at several swimming locations on the Gold Coast. Photo: David Gonzalez – IDEXX.

Faecal bacteria has been found in four popular swimming spots on the Gold Coast as experts warn the community to stay alert.

On Friday, non-for-profit organisation Surfrider Foundation volunteer Harry Gordon said they held their monthly “sampling event” where they test the water at several swimming locations on the Gold Coast.

Mr Gordon said he has worked as an environmental professional for over 25 years and has a degree of engineering in environmental engineering.

Mr Gordon said the samples measure the amount of enterococcus bacteria in the water, which indicates human and animal faecal contamination.

“It has the potential to make humans and animals sick with typical symptoms including gastrointestinal illness and eye, ear and skin impacts,” he said.

Mr Gordan said the results found at Broadwater Parklands swimming enclosure, Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach Parklands and Coolangatta Creek were above the “red light threshold”.

“Exceedence of the red threshold value indicates a substantial elevation in the probability of adverse health outcomes,” he said.

On Friday, non-for-profit organisation Surfrider Foundation volunteer Harry Gordon said they held their monthly “sampling event” where they test the water at several swimming locations on the Gold Coast. Photo: David Gonzalez – IDEXX.

On Friday, non-for-profit organisation Surfrider Foundation volunteer Harry Gordon said they held their monthly “sampling event” where they test the water at several swimming locations on the Gold Coast.

While Mr Gordon advised residents to stay alert and “make informed decisions” a Gold Coast City Council spokesperson said the results did not trigger an investigation.

“The latest results on our open beaches were compliant and did not trigger any investigation or community notifications (e.g. Alerts / Signage),” the spokesperson said.

“The City of Gold Coast routinely monitors beaches, creeks, estuaries and swimming enclosures to ensure they are safe for public use“.

Mr Gordon said it was important to note that three of the locations including Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach Parklands and Coolangatta Creek were in the “immediate vicinity of where stormwater outlets flow into the water”.

“Our program is intended to give surfers and beachgoers the information to make informed decisions about risk,” he said.

“Surfrider encourages the community to be aware of the risks associated with swimming and surfing in area adjacent to stormwater outlets.”

On Friday, non-for-profit organisation Surfrider Foundation volunteer Harry Gordon said they held their monthly “sampling event” where they test the water at several swimming locations on the Gold Coast. Photo: David Gonzalez – IDEXX.

Gold Coast residents reacted to a social media post shocked with the findings.

“Ewwww,” Nicki Hall said.

Blair Parker called for dogs to be banned from those beaches, blaming them for the amount of dog poo found.

“Absolutely disgusting,” he said.

“The amount of dog faecal matter found every day. Dogs shitting and pissing everywhere and then cleaning off in the lagoon.

“Not the right place for a dog park.

“Gross. Council needs to ban this immediately. Dog parks should be away from water ways period.”

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Originally published as Faecal bacteria found in Gold Coast waterways