ALL 36 of Port Phillip’s beaches were declared unfit for swimming on Monday after heavy rainfall and flash flooding hit Melbourne on Sunday.
The Environment Protection Authority issued an alert on Monday (6 February) after heavy rainfalls urging beachgoers to avoid swimming off all beaches and in waterways for at least 48 hours due to an increased chance of illnesses such as gastro.
Higher bacterial levels have been prevalent in the bay over the past couple of months when faecal matter is swept into the sea from inland stormwater systems.
“Heavy rain and storms can create a risk to the public as they can flood stormwater systems that then carry pollution that has built up in drains into waterways,” EPA applied sciences group manager Dr Anthony Boxshall previously said in a statement.
“In certain conditions, they can be home to bacteria from faecal pollution that poses health risks to swimmers.”
Mordialloc beach’s water quality was declared “poor” last Wednesday (1 February) before the weekend storm.
Liberal state Upper House MP for the South Eastern Metropolitan Region Inga Peulich called on the EPA to do more to cleanup waterways.
“More needs to be done to clean-up outflows and inland waterways including the Mordialloc Creek which are being used as de facto drains,” Ms Peulich said in a statement.
The EPA will issue twice-daily water quality updates of good, fair and poor for Port Phillip’s 36 beaches until March.
Water quality information is also displayed on signs at Life Saving Victoria clubs around the bay.
The water quality forecasts can be seen online at epa.vic.gov.au and via twitter @EPA_Victoria or by calling 1300 372 842.
Text message alerts can be signed up for at yarraandbay.vic.gov.au online.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 8 February 2017
