A popular swimming and fishing spot has been closed after human feces was found in the water.
Tallebudgera Creek on the Gold Coast was off limits to the public at the weekend after authorities raised poor water quality as a public health risk.
The stream was hit by heavy rains that turned the water a murky brown.
The rain is believed to have dumped dirt and debris throughout the region’s waterways, Gold Coast Newsletter reported.
Tallebudgera Creek beach is patrolled by volunteers from the Neptune Royal Lifeserved Club on weekends.
Volunteer Yvonne Curtis collected bags of feces before her shift on Saturday, but said the unpleasant sight did not deter swimmers from entering the water.
“We had a lot of trouble keeping people out of the water,” he told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
‘But most of them were convinced when I showed them the (poo) bag.
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, murky, brown water over the weekend).
The usually pristine creek is often voted one of the best swimming spots in the world, but has been closed many times over the past 12 months, usually after heavy rain (Tallebudgera Creek stock photos).
‘You literally couldn’t see 100mm into the water, it was 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 did not “wash away” quickly as it usually does after a rain.
Patrolled by City of Gold Coast lifeguards Monday to Friday, the beach reopened to the public on Monday.
Recent Libertarian candidate in the state election, Cathy Osborne, took to social media to blame the local sewer system for dirty water and called for it to be improved.
“Despite the rain, over the past month, reports and testing have revealed alarming levels of sewage contamination in and around the area,” he wrote.
“It’s heartbreaking to see this happen to what was once voted the cleanest beach in Australia.
‘This is a disgrace, not only for residents, who pay some of the highest rates in the country, but also for tourists and GC locals who visit and are denied the opportunity to enjoy this once pristine environment .
‘Both levels of government need to stop passing the buck and fix this shitty problem once and for all! That’s enough.’
Swimmers have been advised to stay out of the water after heavy rain for three days if it is an estuary or stream and one day for an open beach (pictured, dirty water in the stream).
A volunteer lifeguard removed human feces from the beach, but that didn’t stop some swimmers from entering the water. In the photo there is a closed sign on the beach.
Tallebudgera Creek has been closed numerous times in the last 12 months, usually following heavy rainfall.
Often voted one of the best swimming spots in the world, the creek was closed again after a major sewage leak a year ago.
The cause was a burst pipe at the local wastewater treatment plant in Palm Beach.
Gold Coast Council warned swimmers to avoid waterways last week after heavy rain.
Discolored, cloudy or odorous water should be avoided.
Shark Smart NSW is also warning swimmers to avoid cloudy or dirty water, especially after heavy rain, as the conditions attract bull sharks.