Ballina’s beaches in top shape despite lots of rain
Despite heavy rainfall and flooding, beaches in the Ballina Shire have been in top shape over the summer season.
All sites monitored were suitable for swimming for most of the season, according to results released this week by Ballina Shire Council and the Office of Environment and Heritage’s (OEH) Beachwatch Program.
Kerri Watts, Senior Environmental Health Officer at Ballina Shire Council, said that Ballina’s swimming sites, particularly ocean beaches, performed well when compared with the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) recreational water quality guidelines.
The ocean beaches monitored in the program are Seven Mile Beach, Shelly Beach and Lighthouse Beach.
The estuarine and lake sites are Lake Ainsworth, Shaws Bay and The Serpentine.
“Despite above-average rainfall from November to January, the three monitored ocean beaches monitored generally remained safe for swimming,” Ms Watts said.
“Lake Ainsworth, Shaws Bay and The Serpentine didn’t perform as well, occasionally posing an increased risk of illness to swimmers.
“Heavy rainfall, poor dilution and minimal flushing all contributed to the occasionally poor results seen at these sites.”
Ms Watts said that monitoring had been conducted since 2002 to inform the local community of when and where it is safe to swim.
The results of Council’s monitoring program are posted weekly on Council’s website as well the OEH Beachwatch website.
“Despite our great results, we do recommend that people avoid swimming for a day or two after heavy rainfall at ocean beaches, and for up to three days in estuarine sites due to potential impacts from stormwater,” Ms Watts said.
Cris Hickey, Manager of Beachwatch at OEH, said that “the results this summer confirm that Ballina Shire Council has some of the cleanest beaches in the state.”
“There are lots of things that the community and visitors to the area can do to help keep our beaches in top shape. By placing litter in the bin or taking it home with you and always picking up pet droppings, we can all help ensure pollution stays out of the stormwater so that our waterways stay clean,” said Ms Hickey.
