The annual Beachwatch results have been released giving Eurobodalla Council a 91% score. Compiled by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage the recently-released 2019-20 recent report showed water quality at nine of the 10 monitored beaches in Eurobodalla were rated ‘good’ or ‘very good’ with Surf Beach once again testing Poor.
Council have advised they are continuing to investigate why Surf Beach in the Batemans Bay region returned a poor result.
Council’s environmental services manager Deb Lenson said of the result “We will be undertaking additional testing throughout the summer at Denhams Beach, Wimbie Beach and the Surf Beach Creek to try and ascertain the source of contamination at Surf Beach,”
Ms Lenson reminded residents to avoid swimming in local beaches, lakes and rivers for at least a few days after heavy rain and wait until the water looked clean and clear.
“Water quality in these areas is always reduced due to sediment runoff entering our waterways,” she said.
“We’ll also continue to see debris, soil and nutrient loads coming downstream from our bushfire-affected areas for some time to come, as evidenced by the recent heavy rainfall in the upper catchments.”
The Beachwatch monitored beaches are Bengello Beach, Brou Beach, Broulee North, Caseys Beach, Cookies Beach, Malua Bay, Narooma Main Beach, Narooma Shark Net, Shelley Beach, Surf Beach and Tuross Main Beach.
Above: Council’s environmental health officer Mike Jones samples Shelley Beach.
