Call for beach solution
Residents fear another summer of water quality problems
BLACKMANS Bay residents fear they will endure another summer of being unable to swim at their local beach due to water quality issues.
The southern end of Blackmans Bay Beach was closed last summer after water quality testing detected faecal contamination.
The problems were traced to a number of factors, including plumbing issues on private properties, and tree roots growing into stormwater pipes.
Resident Chelsea Achilles said she wanted to take her two boys, Maximus, 4, and Rafael, 1, to the family’s favourite local beach.
“We’re an active family and we’re always outdoors,’’ she said.
“Even in winter time, my fouryear-old is off at the beach and loves to go for a swim.”
During the closure, the family was forced to head to other beaches.
Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter said recent testing had showed improved results over the past three months.
“We have conducted a comprehensive sampling regime of the Blackmans Bay Beach water, the beach itself, our stormwater systems and catchment areas through the winter months, with promising results,’’ he said.
“We are now collating that data for release to the community and government within the next month.”
He said the council would continue to work with TasWater to identify ongoing issues, and would continue to provide weekly updates to the community. It also intended to hold a community briefing before summer.
Water quality issues were also detected last summer at nearby Kingston Beach.
Labor environment spokeswoman Alison Standen yesterday launched a community petition calling on the Government to ensure Blackmans Bay Beach was open to swimmers by the start of summer.
“Tasmanians have a limited window of warm weather to enjoy swimming in our waterways and they deserve to feel safe and confident to do so,’’ she said.
Environment Minister Peter Gutwein said the Environment Protection Authority “was aware of the issue of poor water quality at Blackmans Bay and Kingston beaches and is continuing to work with TasWater and Kingborough Council in its investigation of possible solutions”.