4. COUNCIL RECREATIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES Table 1 – Council Recreational Water Management Activities Council Location Site / Water Body Type of Sampling Sampling Frequency Results Comments / Corrective Action 4.1 Break O'Day Council Contact Council: (03) 6376 7900 Beauty Bay, St Helens Grants Lagoon, Binalong Bay Henderson Lagoon, Falmouth Scamander River Mouth, Scamander Wrinklers Lagoon, Scamander Yarmouth Creek, Beaumaris Natural recreational water body sampling sites Bacteriological Enterococci Monthly from December to March. All sites were compliant with Guideline values for primary contact activities. Permanent signs are in place advising not to swim during and after rainfall events in enclosed water and river sites. Bayside Inn, St Helens, pool Blue Seas Holiday Villas, pool Pelican sands, Scamander, pool Scamander Beach Hotel Motel, pool St Helens District High School, pool St Marys District High School, pool Tidal Waters, St Helens, pool Sands Estate, Ironhouse Point, 1 pool, 1 spa Pools and Spas Bacteriological Heterotrophic Plate Count Thermotolerant coliforms/ E.coli Pseudomonas aeruginosa Sampling frequency varied between but at a lower frequency than Guideline requirements. No corrective actions were required. 4.2 Brighton Council Contact: Brent Bastian (03) 6263 0332 Road, Old Beach Natural recreational water body sampling sites Bacteriological Enterococci Weekly from December to March. The site was compliant with Guideline values for primary contact activities. The site is recognised as used for secondary contact activities. Permanent are in place advising against primary contact activities. Water quality has been graded as good at this site.
Brighton Swim centre and Spas Bacteriological Heterotrophic Count Thermotolerant coliforms/ E.coli Pseudomonas aeruginosa Monthly. No corrective actions were required. 4.3 Burnie Council Contact Amanda Richards eho@burnie.net Cooee Beach, east end Cooee Beach, west end West Beach, east end West west end Burnie, yacht club Natural recreational water body sampling sites Bacteriological Enterococci Sampling frequency varied from fortnightly to 3 weekly Sites were compliant with Guideline values for primary contact activities, with the exception of a single occasion at South Burnie. Resampling returned compliant results. Burnie Aquatic Centre, Burnie, pool Healthglo Fitness & Leisure, Burnie, pool Oasis Three Mile Line, Burnie, pool Private Pool Hire, Camdale, pool TLC Aquatic, West Mooreville Road, Burnie, pool Taswim, Burnie, pool Pools and Spas Bacteriological Heterotrophic Plate Count Thermotolerant coliforms/ E.coli Pseudomonas aeruginosa Monthly. Corrective actions were taken following a single noncompliant result. Resampling returned compliant results. 4.4 Central Coast Council Contact Bill Hyndes or Madeline McKinnell on (03) 6429 8936 Bannons Park, Gunns Plains Johnsons Beach, Penguin Caravan Park Main Beach, Penguin Main Beach, Ulverstone, Surf Club Midway Point, Penguin Natural recreational water body sampling sites Bacteriological Enterococci Sampling was conducted on three occasions. Sites were compliant with Guideline values for primary contact activities, with the exception of Picnic Point. Results for Picnic Point were consistently noncompliant. No corrective actions were required
Picnic Point Beach, West Ulverstone Preservation Bay, Penguin, Surf Club Turners Beach Dolphinius Aquatics, Turners Beach, pool East Ulverstone Indoor Pool, pool Mount Saint Vincent, Ulverstone, hydrotherapy pool Ulverstone Water Slide, Ulverstone, pool Pools and Spas 4.5 Central Highlands Council Contact Bev Armstrong (03) 6259 5503 Derwent River, Lake Meadowbank Ouse River, Ouse Brady’s Lake Bronte lagoon Wayatinah Lagoon Tungatinah Lagoon Natural recreational water body sampling sites Bacteriological Enterococci Sampling was conducted in January and February were compliant with Guideline values for primary contact activities. Sampling was not conducted at Clyde River, Bothwell and Hamilton this season. Permanent ‘no swimming’ signs are in place at these sites. Bothwell Swimming Pool, Bothwell Pools and Spas 4.6 Circular Head Council Contact Circular head Council (03) 6261 8525 Crayfish Creek Detention Godfreys Beach Tatlows Natural recreational water body sampling Bacteriological Enterococci Monthly Sites were compliant with Guideline values for primary contact activities. Permanent signs are in place advising against primary contact activities at Crayfish Creek and Detention River based on noncompliant results in previous years. No pools open to the public during 2016-2017 season Pools and Spas 4.7 Clarence City Council Contact Ron Vanderwal (03) 6261 8525 Bellerive Beach Howrah Beach East Howrah Beach, Salacia Ave Natural recreational water body sampling Bacteriological Enterococci Weekly from December to and monthly Results for 1- 4 for December - March were compliant with Guideline values for primary contact, with the exception of a Water quality at recreational sites has been graded as follows: Bellerive Beach, moderate and Howrah Beach middle,
Howrah Beach, Silwood Ave Little Howrah Beach during other months. single occasion in late December. This was attributed to rainfall and subsequent stormwater runoff. Results for Howrah Beach were also noncompliant in late December and on two occasions in late January. Samples were taken on a single occasion at Dorans Road, Roaches Beach and Rokeby Beach. Lauderdale Beach was sampled on three occasions and in response to a noncompliant result, resampled. Over winter, noncompliant results occurred on two occasions at Bellerive Beach, Howrah Beach and Howrah Beach, Silwood Ave and on one occasion at Howrah Beach, Salacia Ave. Although not primary contact sites, Kangaroo Bay Rivulet and Clarence Plains River were sampled after rainfall events greater than 10mm to monitor bacterial contamination. Howrah Beach West, Howrah Beach East and Little Howrah Beach as good. Significant stormwater projects were completed during 2016/17 at Simmons Park, Lindisfarne, Kangaroo Bay Parkland and Minerva Park, Howrah. Council anticipates improved stormwater quality released into the Derwent Estuary. Further works are planned for 2017/2018. Council intends installing ‘flip down’ signage to display advisory warnings two consecutive samples return noncompliant results. Acton Swim Centre, 1 pool, 1 spa and Spas Bacteriological Heterotrophic Plate Count Monthly Noncompliant results occurred on one occasion at sites. On all occasions corrective action
Barilla Thermal Springs, Cambridge, 1 spa Clarence Aquatic Centre, Montagu Bay, 3 pools Clarence Joint Therapy, Howrah, 1 pool, Oceania Health and Fitness, Mornington, 1 therapy pool, 1 pool Richmond Caravan Park, Richmond, 1 pool Sea Horse Swim Centre, Howrah, 1 pool Shellz Swim Centre, Rokeby East, 1 pool Wyndham resort, Mile Beach, 1 pool, 1 spa Thermotolerant coliforms/ E.coli Pseudomonas aeruginosa. was taken and resampling returned compliant results. 4.8 Derwent Valley Council Contact Bradford (03) 6261 8525 Fitzgerald Park Jetty, Derwent River, New Norfolk. Natural recreational body sampling sites Bacteriological Enterococci Weekly from December to March. Results were compliant with Guideline values for primary contact activities. quality at this site was given a rating of good. Bushy Park Swimming Pool, Glenora New Norfolk Swimming Pool, 2 pools Derwent Valley Indoor Swim Centre, New Norfolk, pool and Spas Bacteriological Heterotrophic Plate Count Thermotolerant coliforms/ E.coli Pseudomonas aeruginosa Sampling was conducted monthly at Sites 1 and 2, and weekly at Site 3. No corrective actions were required. 4.9 Devonport City Council Contact Senior Environmental Health Officer (03) 6424 0576 Back Bluff Beach Coles Beach East Devonport Beach Natural recreational water body sampling sites Bacteriological Enterococci Fortnightly from December to Results were compliant with Guideline values for primary contact activities, with the exception of a single occasion in January at Back Beach. A sanitary inspection of the Back Beach was conducted in January but did not identify a source of contamination. As there have been periodic sewer overflows from a nearby manhole, council suggests
E.coli Pseudomonas aeruginosa 4.13 Glamorgan/Spring Bay Council Contact Glamorgan Spring Bay Council (03) 6256 5050 East Shelly Beach, Orford Jubilee Beach, Swansea Muirs Beach, Coles Bay Spring Beach, Orford Waubs Beach, Bicheno Natural recreational water body sampling sites Bacteriological Enterococci Monthly from December to March. were compliant with Guideline values for primary contact activities. Beachfront at Bicheno, pool Eastcoaster Resort, 2 pools, 1 spa Saffire Freycinet, 4 Wintersun Gardens Motel, pool Pools and spas Bacteriological Heterotrophic Plate Count Thermotolerant coliforms/ E.coli Pseudomonas aeruginosa Varied from monthly at one site to once per swimming season at other sites. Noncompliant results occurred on four occasions at one site. Corrective action was taken and on all occasions resampling returned compliant results. 4.14 Glenorchy City Council Contact Alex Woodward (03) 6216 6790 Elwick Bay Windermere Beach Mona Berriedale Bay Mona Cameron Bay Mona Jetty Natural recreational water body sampling sites Bacteriological Enterococci Bacteriological Enterococci Samples from Windermere complied with Guideline values for primary contact activities, with the exception of a single occasion in December. Samples were noncompliant from Elwick Bay and Berridale Bay on three occasions, from Cameron Bay on one occasion and Mona Jetty on one occasion. Sites 1 and 2 have been routinely monitored for a number of years. Sites 3 and 5 have been monitored since the 2014-2015 and Site 4 was also sampled this season. Water quality at Windermere was graded as good, which is an improvement from a poor grading in previous years. Elwick Bay maintained a grading of poor, with permanent signs in place advising that water quality is not suitable for swimming. The remaining sites are not used for primary contact activities but monitoring provides an
insight into water quality in the area. Glenorchy War Memorial Pool, 50 m pool Glenorchy War memorial Pool, wading pool Glenorchy War Memorial Pool KGV Hydrotherapy Pool, pool Mona Pool, Berriedale One Care Barossa Park, Glenorchy Waterfront Lodge, Lutana, pool Riverfront Motel & Villas, pool Undine Pool, Rosetta and spas Bacteriological Heterotrophic Plate Count Thermotolerant coliforms/ E.coli Pseudomonas aeruginosa Monthly from December to March. Noncompliant results occurred on one occasion at one pool and on two occasions at another. On all occasions resampling returned compliant results. 4.15 Hobart (City of Hobart) Contact Felicity Edwards (03) 6238 2842 Nutgrove Beach (2 sites) Little Bay Beach (2 sites) Marieville Esplanade Cornelian Bay Natural recreational body sampling sites Bacteriological Enterococci Weekly from December to March. Primary contact sites, Sites 1 and 2 were compliant with Guideline values with the exception of two occasions at Little Sandy Bay Beach North and two occasions at Nutgrove East. A single noncompliant result was reported for Nutgrove West. Although not primary contact Marieville Esplanade and Cornelian Bay are sampled to monitor bacterial contamination as they are adjacent to popular recreational sites. Sanitary inspections were conducted following noncompliant results at Sites 1 and 2 in December and February, but did not identify a source of contamination. Council, TasWater and the Derwent Estuary Program are working together to identify and rectify sources of contamination in the urban catchment that impact on Nutgrove Beach West. Permanent signs are in place at Nutgrove West, Marieville Esplanade and Cornelian Bay warning of poor water quality. Signs
4.16 Huon Valley Council Contact Scott Edwards (03) 6264 0355 Natural recreational water body sampling sites Sampling is no longer conducted as approval to cease sampling was obtained in 2012 from the Director of Public Health. Council continues to respond to complaints, issues or concerns the public may have regarding water quality. Permanent swimming advisory signs are in place at Dover Beach, Randalls Bay and Verona Sands advising the public of potential contamination, due to outfalls from nearby lagoons, following rainfall events. Hastings Caves Pool Huonville Swimming Pool Port Huon Swimming Pool Pools and Spas Bacteriological (Heterotrophic Count, Thermotolerant coliforms/E.coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) Monthly. Noncompliant results occurred on one occasion at two pools. Corrective action was taken and resampling returned compliant results. 4.17 Kentish Council Contact Kentish Council (03) 6491 2500 Lake Barrington - Kentish Park Lake Barrington - Rowing Course Natural recreational body sampling Bacteriological Enterococci Monthly from November to Sites were compliant with guideline values for primary contact activities. Cradle Mountain Hotel, Cradle Mountain,1spa Sheffield School Railton Campus, pool Silver Retreat, pool Pools and Spas Bacteriological (Heterotrophic Plate Count, Thermotolerant coliforms/E.coli, Monthly when open. No corrective actions were required.
Woodbridge Pool, Woodbridge Hill Road, pool 4.19 King Island Council Contact King Island Council (03) 6462 1177 Natural recreational water body King Island Council did not conduct sampling during the 2016-2017 season. Pools and Spas Council did not advise of any publically accessible pools or spas in the municipality. 4.20 Latrobe Council Contact Glenys Nichols (03) 6421 4650 Freer Beach - Shearwater Hawley Beach Mersey River - end of Shale Road Mersey River - Bells Parade Panatana Rivulet Port Sorell Pontoon Squeaking Point Natural recreational water body sampling sites Bacteriological Enterococci Weekly from December to March. Results from the Mersey River at both Bells Parade and Shale Road were noncompliant with Guideline values for primary contact activities on four occasions. Temporary signs warning against swimming were erected at Shale Road in January following two consecutive noncompliant results. Three samples were noncompliant with Guideline values at Panatana Rivulet. Results of resampling on all three occasions returned compliant results. The Mersey River was affected by the June 2016 floods, with minimal flow noted on a number of occasions. Some remedial works have been undertaken to assist increase river flow. Permanent signage indicating a water quality grading of fair is in place at Mersey River, Bells Parade. Latrobe Swimming Pool, Latrobe, 1pool Lotus Waters Wellness Centre Spa, Shearwater, 1 spa Rubicon Swim School, Latrobe, 1 pool Pools and Spas Bacteriological (Heterotrophic Plate Count, Thermotolerant coliforms/E.coli, Monthly. Noncompliant results occurred on seven occasions at one spa and on one occasion at one pool. Corrective action was taken and resampling returned compliant results, with the
Shearwater Resort, Shearwater, 2 pools, 1 spa Strathdevon Aged Care, Latrobe, 1 hydrotherapy pool, Tudor Cabins, Northdown, 1 pool Pseudomonas aeruginosa) exception of one occasion where resampling of the spa returned noncompliant results and the spa closed. The spa was reopened following further corrective action and two compliant results. 4.21 Launceston (City of Launceston) Contact Debbie Fortuin (03) 6323 3261 Corra Linn First Basin, South Esk River Catchment St Leonards Picnic Ground, North Esk River Catchment Waverley Lake Natural recreational water body sampling Bacteriological Enterococci Weekly from December to March. Results were generally compliant with Guideline values for primary contact activities. Exceptions were one occasion at First Basin in late January and four occasions at Corra Linn. Results of resampling at First Basin were compliant with Guideline values. Results of resampling at Corra Linn were noncompliant on three occasions and the site subsequently closed for primary contact activities. Signs were erected at Corra Linn warning against swimming in December and late February, when the site was closed for primary contact activities. Australian Maritime College, Newnham Pool, pool Brent Wrankmore Swim School, Launceston, pool Glen Dhu Pool, South Launceston, pool Glenara Lakes Pool and Spa, Youngtown, 1 pool, 1 spa Just Swim, Meadows, pool Pools and Spas Bacteriological (Heterotrophic Plate Count, Thermotolerant coliforms/E.coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) Monthly. Noncompliant results occurred on one occasion at one pool, on two occasions at one pool, on four occasions at one pool and six occasions at one spa. Corrective action was taken and on all occasions resampling returned compliant results.
Launceston Aquatic Centre, Launceston, 6 pools, 1 spa Launceston Church Grammar, East Launceston, pool Launceston College Pool and Spa, Launceston, 1 pool, 1 spa Launceston Swim School, South Launceston, pool Lilydale Pool, Lilydale, 1 pool, 1 spa Newstead Heights Pool, Newstead, pool Olde Tudor pool and Spa, Launceston, pool Sacred Heart Pool, Launceston, pool St Patricks College Pool, Launceston Village family Motor Inn, South Launceston, 1 pool, 1 spa 4.22 Meander Valley Council Contact Katie Proctor (03) 6393 5339 Blackstone Heights - Lake Trevallyn Bracknell Picnic Area - Liffey River Egmont Bridge - Meander River Hadspen Picnic Area - South Esk River Natural recreational water body sampling sites Bacteriological Enterococci Weekly from December to March. Results were compliant with Guideline values for primary contact at Blackstone Heights, with the exception of one occasion that coincided with rain. Results were noncompliant on seven occasions at Bracknell and on three occasions at Egmont. Results of resampling at these sites were compliant with quality at Blackstone Heights has been graded as good, at Bracknell as moderate to poor, at Egmont as good and as poor at Hadspen.
Guideline values. Results for Hadspen were noncompliant on half of the sampling occasions and the site closed for primary contact activities from to mid-February. Warning signs were erected at this site advising of poor water quality. Caveside Pool, pool Country Club Casino, Prospect vale, 1 pool, 1 spa Country Club Villas, 1 pool, 1 spa Deloraine Pool, pool Deloraine Primary School, pool Mole Creek Pool, pool and spas Bacteriological (Heterotrophic Plate Count, Thermotolerant coliforms/E.coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) Monthly when open. Noncompliant results occurred on one occasion at one site, on two occasions at two sites and on six occasions at one site. On all occasions corrective action was taken and resampling returned compliant results. 4.23 Northern Midlands Council Contact Chris Wicks (03) 6397 7303 Mill Dam Reserve, Longford, South Esk River Rotary Park, Leighlands Road, Evandale, Esk River William Street Reserve, Perth, South Esk River Natural recreational water body sampling sites Bacteriological Enterococci Weekly from December to March. Sites 1 and 3 were compliant with Guideline values for primary contact activities. Site two was closed on one occasion in early December and reopened following two compliant results in Noncompliant results occurred at Site 2 on three a further sampling occasions. Resampling returned compliant results. Signs warning against swimming were erected at Site 2 when closed and removed when reopened. Campbell Town Pool, Campbell Town, pool Cressy Pool, Cressy, pool Ross Pool, Ross, pool Pools and Spas Bacteriological (Heterotrophic Plate Count, Monthly when open. No corrective actions were required.
Wynyard Fitness, Wynyard, 1 pool, 1 spa 4.28 West Coast Council Contact West Coast Council (03) 6471 4715 West Strahan Natural recreational water body sampling sites Bacteriological Enterococci Weekly from Dec to March. Results complied with the Guideline values for primary contact activities. Queenstown Swimming Pool Rosebery Swimming pool Zeehan Swimming Pool Pools and Spas Bacteriological (Heterotrophic Plate Count, Thermotolerant coliforms/E.coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) Monthly when open. No corrective actions were required. 4.29 West Council Contact Rick Chippindall (03) 6323 9300 Beauty Deviot Gravelly Beach Greens Beach Kelso Beach Redbill Point Rosevears Lake Trevallyn Natural recreational body sampling sites Bacteriological Enterococci Weekly from December to March. Sites were generally complaint with Guideline values for primary contact activities. Noncompliant results occurred at Kelso on one occasion, Greens Beach on four occasions, and Paper Beach/Swan Point on four occasions. Results of resampling at and Greens Beach complied with Guideline values. Temporary signs were erected at Paper Beach/Swan Point during January following two noncompliant results. Beaconsfield Primary School Pool, Beaconsfield, 1 pool Big4 Kelso Sands Holiday Park, 1 pool Gravelly Beach Swim Centre, 1 pool Riverside Swim Centre, Riverside, 2 pools Tamar Cove Motel, Beauty Point, pool Pools and Spas Bacteriological (Heterotrophic Count, Thermotolerant coliforms/E.coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) Monthly. No corrective actions were required.
5. DISCUSSION This is the sixteenth year of reporting on recreational water quality in Tasmania. Twenty-seven of 29 councils reported having active water quality monitoring programs for natural recreational water bodies within their municipalities. The two councils that did not do regular testing manage natural recreational waters by either permanent signage or annual reassessment of risk. When testing identified non-compliant quality in natural recreational water bodies, councils responded with a combination of resampling and signage, typically indicating that the water was temporarily unsuitable for swimming. Most councils reported having monthly quality monitoring programs in place for public swimming pools and public spa pools. Non-compliant results were addressed by requiring operators to undertake corrective actions. Corrective actions include resampling to verify the effectiveness of the actions taken and can also include pool closure. By undertaking regular testing of designated natural recreational water sites, and managing them in accordance with guidelines, councils help the public to make confident and informed decisions about water quality and the risk to human health when swimming or enjoying other recreational activities. The current review of the Tasmanian Recreational Water Quality Guidelines will review the process for councils to seek approval for variation in the frequency of sampling of particular natural recreational water bodies. This process should accommodate both a risk assessment that is sensitive to the hazards that may emerge in a site, and an approach that takes into account the public use of the site and the appropriate deployment of council resources. DHHS will continue to work closely with councils to improve recreational water quality through their monitoring and management of sites. Heavy rainfall affects the water quality of recreational areas especially near storm water outfalls, as contaminants on the land are washed into the water. Accordingly, people should not swim near flowing storm water outfalls, and should wait a few days after rain before swimming in areas where contaminated run-off is likely to have occurred. This general advice applies to designated natural recreational water sites and other locations in Tasmania. Dr Mark Veitch Director of Public Health