More Derwent beaches fail than pass water quality test
UPDATED: Mayors of municipalities plagued by persistent beach pollution have joined forces to call for action. RESULTS OF NEW WATER TESTS PENDING
Lifestyle
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UPDATED: Mayors of municipalities plagued by persistent beach pollution have joined forces to call for action.
Hobart, Kingborough and Clarence want to meet with the State Government to see what steps can be taken to address recurrent high levels of faecal contamination at beaches along the River Derwent.
Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said this week’s test results, which showed 10 of 18 beaches had high pollution levels, were an indication more effort was required to fix the problem.
“It may be intermittent but it’s still not good enough and we would just like to meet with the State Environment Minister and the Derwent Estuary Program and get a sense of whether there is more that we should be doing or more that the State Government could do.”
Ald Reynolds said she has spoken to Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter and Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman and the three were concerned.
“All the councils that have had issues are concerned there have been persistently poor results over several months,” she said.
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“We need advice to ensure that we are doing all that we can because we see these results pop out every few months and I don’t think the community accepts that it’s OK.
“They want a sense that we have a plan to reduce the risk of these kinds of results.”
The comments follow tests earlier this week showing a poor result across all of Kingston Beach, all of Blackmans Bay, Little Sandy Bay, the middle of Howrah and Little Howrah Beach.
The failures are a result of high faecal contamination, possible from animal waste or underperforming sewerage systems.
The beaches were being re-tested yesterday and results will be known later today about whether they are clear for swimming at the weekend.
Derwent Estuary Program chief executive Ursula Taylor said the unusually high rate of failures came after rain, which must have flushed pollution through to beaches.
“There was a bit of rainfall Sunday and Monday nights and, while it wasn’t a huge amount, it hasn’t rained for some time and it may have been just enough to flush out water that has been sitting around,” she said.
“We stand by our advice of not swimming after heavy rainfall and avoiding swimming near water pipes.”
Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter said he also wanted to see more action from the State Government, as the issue was wider than his municipality.
EARLIER: TEN beaches have failed the most recent testing for pollution across Greater Hobart – resulting in more Derwent beaches being rated unsafe for swimming than safe.
Some of the most popular beaches receiving a fail result include all of Kingston Beach, all of Blackmans Bay, Little Sandy Bay and the middle of Howrah.
The failures are a result of high faecal contamination, possible from animal waste or underperforming sewerage systems.
Eighteen beaches were tested on Tuesday, resulting in only seven beaches receiving a green tick of approval for swimming, 10 receiving a fail and one gaining an “OK”.
Derwent Estuary Program chief executive Ursula Taylor said the unusually high rate of failures came after rain, which must have flushed pollution through to beaches.
“There was a bit of rainfall Sunday and Monday nights and, while it wasn’t a huge amount, it hasn’t rained for some time and it may have been just enough to flush out water that has been sitting around,” she said.
“We stand by our advice of not swimming after heavy rainfall and avoiding swimming near water pipes.”
She said further testing was being undertaken to determine whether any of the beaches would need to be closed before the weekend. Results were expected to be known on Friday.
Ms Taylor said the faecal contamination could have a number of sources.
“We’re not sure of the sources – it could be animals or possible sewerage overflows.”
This week’s Beach Watch testing by the Derwent Estuary Program is the last for the 2018-19 summer season.
But the high number of fails has prompted a call for the testing to continue until problems are resolved.
Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter said the extent of this week’s poor results showed the problem extended further than his municipality.
“It shows there was a wider issue across the Derwent,” he said.
“The advice is always not to swim in the Derwent after rainfall events.”
Nelson candidate Richard Griggs, who is campaigning on a platform of cleaner beaches, said he would write to authorities asking for further investigations.
“Firstly, as an urgent response to these results, the weekly testing regime could be expanded past the end of March when it is currently scheduled to end,” he said.
“The contamination problem obviously will still be here next week when April arrives and it is prudent to consider expanding the testing for more of the 2019 calendar year.
“Secondly, it has been suggested to me that local councils should be required to routinely test the water leaving their stormwater pipes and entering beaches. This testing would scan for faecal contamination and, should trigger levels be reached, the council would be required to investigate the source and fix the problem.”
He said finding the source of the contamination should become a priority.
SOURCE IDENTIFIED FOR BLACKMANS BAY POLLUTION
There have been ongoing problems at the southern end of Blackmans Bay, which was closed for the entire summer.
Testing by TasWater and Kingborough Council revealed that waste from a number of private properties at the southern end of Blackmans Bay is likely to be contributing to pollution that has forced the closure of the popular beach.
Ms Taylor said ongoing problems at the most recently failed beaches could require further testing by TasWater and councils.
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