A sign has been placed near the stormwater drain at south Broulee Beach advising people against swimming. Photo: Alex Rea.
Swimming at one of Eurobodalla’s most popular beaches is off-limits until at least tomorrow (4 February) as the local council manages a sewage spill.
Signs were posted at south Broulee Beach shortly after the spill was reported on Monday (1 February), warning people not to swim because of the health hazard.
A Eurobodalla Shire Council spokesperson said sewage had entered the stormwater drain near the road at south Broulee Beach.
The spokesperson blamed tree roots which chocked sewage pipes and caused an overflow at a maintenance hole adjacent to Grant Street, a five-minute walk from the beach.
Today (3 February), the council was waiting on test results to show if the ocean water was safe to swim in. Council hopes to reopen the beach on Thursday.
“We only closed the beach as a precaution because samples taken from the stormwater drain were high, but we’re confident the beach water quality is fine,” the spokesperson said.
“As soon as we get the results that show the beach water quality is fine, the signs will come down.”
Eurobodalla Shire Council said the stormwater was contaminated after tree roots damaged pipes. Photo: Alex Rea.
The damage to the pipes has been fixed and no other beaches, including north Broulee Beach, have been impacted.
The spokesperson said damaged pipes were something the council dealt with regularly.
“These are things that happen, not often, but they do happen,” they said. “We do maintenance regularly, but sometimes there is a choke and then we move quickly to fix it.”
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