Revenge of the turd for hot spot
CURRUMBIN Creek has a poo problem, with Gold Coast City Council revealing the source of contamination which shut the popular watering hole.
Council closed Currumbin Rock Pools on December 31 after water tests showed possible contamination, with the exact cause a mystery.
But yesterday, a council spokesman said coliform bacteria, an indicator of excrement levels, had been detected in Currumbin Creek.
Mayor Tom Tate urged people to keep out to avoid potential nasty infection.
“No matter what the cause is I don’t want any kids or adults swimming in there and coming out with either a nose or ear infection,” Cr Tate said.
The water quality would “come good” and council workers would do daily tests of the affected waterways, where warning signs had been erected, to ensure it didn’t spread, he said.
“It appears (water quality) isn’t up to standard, I’m asking people stay out of it, give it a couple of days to settle down and let mother nature do its course,” Cr Tate said.
“It’ll come good, it’s just that it’s a health issue and precaution is paramount.
“There will be continual water testing and there will be signs there for everyone.”
Asked if concerned about water quality, he said: “We’re one of the cleanest waterways in the world.”
A Healthy Land and Water 2017 Report Card in November last year suggested otherwise. It found city waterways were not the best in Southeast Queensland and were increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather.
Recent rains are believed to have caused the potentially dangerous levels of faecal matter or fertiliser from farms in the Currumbin Valley to run off into Currumbin Creek.
Similar weather conditions closed Lake Hugh Muntz and major swimming holes at Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creek in 2011 after the discovery of high levels of entercocci bacteria.
Separately, a blue green algae bloom has broken out in the hot weather over the New Year period to close Hugh Muntz Lake at Mermaid Waters. Swimming in water affected by toxic algae can cause stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and rashes.
“(The city) has twice as many waterways as Venice so when you say there a couple where water is not up to scratch, I’d say look at the overall picture,” Cr Tate said.
“It’s been very hot and conducive to algal growth.”
NO MATTER WHAT THE CAUSE IS I DON’T WANT ANY KIDS OR ADULTS SWIMMING IN THERE