A popular swimming and fishing spot was shut down after human faeces was found in the water.
Tallebudgera Creek on the Gold Coast was off limits to the public on the weekend after authorities posed the poor water quality as a public health risk.
The creek was impacted by heavy rain which turned the water a murky brown colour.
It’s believed the rain flushed dirt and debris throughout the region’s waterways, Gold Coast Bulletin reported.
Tallebudgera Creek Beach is patrolled by volunteers from the Neptune Royal Lifesaving Club on weekends.
Volunteer Yvonne Curtis collected bags of faeces before her shift on Saturday but said the disgusting sight didn’t stop beachgoers from entering the water.
‘We had a lot of trouble keeping people out of the water,’ she told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
‘But most of them were convinced when I showed them the bag (of poo).
The usually blue and clear water at Tallebudgera Creek on the Gold Coast had human faeces in it over the weekend, forcing its closure to protect the public (pictured the murky and brown water over the weekend)
The usually pristine creek is often voted as one of the world’s best swimming spots but has been closed many times over the last 12 months, usually after heavy rain (pictures stock photo of Tallebudgera Creek)
‘You literally couldn’t see 100mm into the water it’s so dirty. We always close the beach when it looks like that, for health reasons.’
Ms Curtis added that the water quality was ‘pretty horrible’ and wasn’t ‘flushing out’ quickly like it usually did after a rain event.
Patrolled by City of Gold Coast lifeguards on weekdays, the beach reopened to the public on Monday.
Recent Libertarian state election candidate Cathy Osborne took to social media to blame the local sewerage system for the dirty water and called for it to be upgraded.
‘Not withstanding the rain, over the past month, reports and testing have revealed alarming levels of sewage contamination in and around the area,’ she wrote.
‘It’s heartbreaking to see this happening to what was once voted Australia’s cleanest beach.
‘This is a disgrace—not just for residents, who pay some of the highest rates in the country, but also for the tourists and GC locals who visit and are denied the chance to enjoy this once-pristine environment.
‘Both levels of government need to stop passing the buck and fix this s****y issue once and for all! Enough is enough.’
Swimmers have been advised to stay out of the water after heavy rain for three days if it’s an estuary or creek and one day for an open beach (pictured the dirty water at the creek)
A volunteer lifesaver removed human faeces from the beach but it didn’t deter some swimmers from entering the water. Pictured is a closed sign at the beach
Tallebudgera Creek has been closed numerous times in the last 12 months – usually after heavy rain.
Often voted one of the world’s best swimming spots, the creek was again shut down after a major sewerage leak a year ago.
It was caused by a burst pipe at the local wastewater treatment plant in Palm Beach.
Gold Coast Council warned swimmers to avoid waterways last week after a heavy rains.
Water that is discoloured, murky or that smells should be avoided.
Shark Smart NSW also warns swimmers to avoid water that is murky or dirty, especially after high rainfall, as the conditions attract bull sharks.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk