DIRTY DERWENT

FILTHY CALL TO CLEAN UP OUR ACT

STORMWATER pollution forced the cancellation of two key events of the Royal Hobart Regatta on Sunday, prompting calls for more to be done to clean up the River Derwent.

The Trans Derwent Swim and powerboat racing were called off because of filth and debris in the water after Friday’s rain. Tasmanian Alliance for Marine Protection’s Sheenagh Neill called for councils to install grates over stormwater drains to reduce the pollution.

ALL Greater Hobart beaches need grates over stormwater drains to prevent pollution ending up on shorelines and in the River Derwent, a marine protection group says.

A 40mm downpour of rain on Friday night brought reports of debris washing up on Eastern Shore beaches at the weekend as authorities advised against swimming in the Derwent.

Several water events on Day Three of the Royal Hobart Regatta, including the Trans Derwent Swim and the power boat races, were cancelled amid water quality concerns.

The government-partnered Derwent Estuary Program’s Bay Watch website shows poor water quality was this month recorded at Hobart Rivulet (mouth), Sandy Bay’s Marieville Esplanade and Brown’s River, Kingston.

Tasmanian Alliance for Marine Protection co-vice chair Sheenagh Neill – a regular sailor in state waters – said councils should be doing more to prevent debris passing through stormwater drains.

“One of the things the councils don’t do well here is put in grates over stormwater drains, because when we have big rain events, our beaches end up with anything deposited by people on the street,” she said.

“Stormwater debris is to be expected after a large rain event because unfortunately we’re way behind the 8-ball. We call ourselves sustainable but we aren’t.”

Ms Neill said authorities also needed to better assess aquaculture infrastructure after severe weather events to address water pollution.

Clarence City Council general manager Ian Nelson said council already had a number of pollutant traps installed on mains.

“These traps stop debris entering waterways and we have a program aimed at progressively upgrading our stormwater system,” Mr Nelson said.

Derwent Estuary Program chief executive Ursula Taylor said authorities were working with local councils to identify which catchments needed better filtration systems.

“Lots of sites have them already but you can’t see them as they’re often underground, but it’s something we’re hoping to help identify as a priority,” she said. “We can all make a difference through a simple combined effort like picking up after dogs and washing cars on grass or at car wash facilities. This will be better for our marine life.”

The River Derwent has been plagued by sewage issues in recent years, including an incident in 2019 when around six megalitres — more than two Olympic-size swimming pools — of untreated sewage and stormwater run-off was discharged into the river from a Macquarie Point treatment plant.