Beachgoers were alarmed when a bright fluorescent green liquid started flowing into the surf from a drainage outlet, but the council insists there is no cause for concern.
Swimmers at Coogee, in Sydney‘s eastern suburbs, were stunned to find the water a fluorescent shade on Friday.
‘I just called council and they were very dismissive and said it’s non-toxic so I shouldn’t be concerned,’ one concerned resident said.
‘I’m so frustrated with the constant pollution of the beach from stormwater and the council not taking it seriously.
‘We pay huge rates and the bare minimum is to keep our beach clean and not have to swim in rubbish and waste.’
Randwick City Council later issued a public statement identifying the substance as fluorescein, a water-soluble dye commonly used by plumbers to trace water flow through sewer and stormwater systems.
‘The dye is non-toxic in the environment, odourless and does not affect humans, however it may cause skin irritation,’ the council said, adding that the colour should fade within a few hours.
The incident comes as new data highlights ongoing water-quality concerns at several Sydney beaches.
Randwick City Council later issued a public statement identifying the substance as fluorescein, a water-soluble dye commonly used by plumbers to trace water flow through sewer and stormwater systems
In Sydney, sites that repeatedly recorded ‘poor’ results included Coogee and Malabar in the Randwick council area, Shelly Beach in Manly, Rose Bay Beach and the Murray Rose Pool
The 2024–25 NSW State of the Beaches report, published by the Department of Environment, revealed that statewide, roughly 21 per cent of the 249 tested swimming locations were rated either ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ due to faecal contamination.
In Sydney, sites that repeatedly recorded ‘poor’ results included Coogee and Malabar in the Randwick council area, Shelly Beach in Manly, Rose Bay Beach and the Murray Rose Pool.
Foreshores Beach and Gymea Bay Baths in Port Hacking were the only two sites to receive a ‘very poor’ rating.
Meanwhile, 20 Sydney beaches earned the highest ‘very good’ rating.
These included South Curl Curl, Avalon, Whale Beach, Palm Beach, Cronulla’s Greenhills, Wanda, Elouera and North Cronulla beaches, along with Maroubra Beach and Nielsen Park.
Bondi received a ‘good’ rating, as did the neighbouring beach at Bronte.
According to government advice, swimmers should steer clear of any site rated ‘very poor’ and treat ‘poor’ sites with caution, particularly post-rain.
