Swimmers told to avoid two beaches

BEACHGOERS have been cautioned about swimming at two Hobart area beaches due to poor water quality, as residents look forward to a burst of warmer weather.

Water testing of greater Hobart’s beaches is under way and so far, the water quality at 16 of the 18 beaches monitored has been rated as good.

But two beaches — Nutgrove (west) and Blackmans Bay (south) — remain under a cloud after receiving poor ratings.

Hobart’s beaches are expected to be busy tomorrow and Friday when temperatures are forecast to hit 29C.

The Beach Watch monitoring program is co-ordinated by the Derwent Estuary Program.

Each week the Estuary Program, in co-operation with local councils and the state Environment Protection Authority, collects water samples from more than 35 sites in the Derwent to test for entercocci, a faecal indicator bacteria.

Water quality results are published at the end of each week on the Estuary Program’s Beach Watch web page and Facebook site.

Estuary Program chief executive Ursula Taylor said water quality at 16 of the 18 beaches monitored in Hobart was rated as good, based on the Recreational Water Quality Guidelines for Tasmania.

Ms Taylor said that was an “enviable situation” for a capital city.

“Beaches with great water quality include Little Sandy Bay, Hinsby, Little Howrah and New Norfolk,” she said.

“Two beaches start with poor ratings this summer, Nutgrove (west) and Blackmans Bay (south) with local councils and TasWater continuing to investigate and address sources of contamination.

“It is worth noting that it is still safe to swim at the other end of both these beaches.”

Kingborough Council has seen improvements in water quality at Blackmans Bay since undertaking repairs to stormwater infrastructure.

The advice remains for people to not swim at the southern end of the beach, but this could be lifted as summer rolls on.

“Given the early positive results, I have asked council officers to commence discussions with the Department of Health to have the rating reviewed this summer,” Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter said.

Ms Taylor said swimmers should be cautious about entering the water after heavy rain and never swim near stormwater drains or urban rivulets.

“Most urban areas experience poor water quality after heavy rain, including the ‘good’ rated sites,” she said.

Beachgoers can also do their part in making the waterway healthier by picking up after dogs and avoiding feeding ducks and geese.