For the second time in 10 weeks, Kiama’s iconic Bombo Beach, was yesterday rendered unsafe for swimming and surfing due to effluent problems at the nearby sewage treatment plant.
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Boneyard Beach may also be affected.
Kiama councillor Andrew Sloan unleashed on Sydney Water for jeopardising the area’s reputation, and not being transparent enough.
“We’re part of the ‘Unspoilt’ tourism campaign,” he said.
“The last thing we need is one of our most high-profile beaches being shut down due to sewage treatment.”
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After the blunder in December, on the eve of the Junior Surfing World Titles at Bombo, Cr Sloan asked for a meeting with Sydney Water, to discuss the root cause of the problem.
Sydney Water hasn’t made the time.
“I am very disappointed,” Cr Sloan said.
“I audit sewage treatment plants, I’m in a good position to understand whether this is some chronic problem or an easy fix.
“They’re yet to release anything from the investigation on that spill, it’s been more than two months ago.”
As for the most recent spill, there are questions he wants answered.
“They claim it was some kind of trade waste into the sewer, but we don't have any heavy industry in Kiama,” Cr Sloan said.
“It is possible, if someone has dumped a large amount of herbicide into the sewer system, it has killed bacteria used to treat the waste water.
“In that case it may take a month or more to re-cultivate bacteria for the sewage system.
“I’m worried there's some other chronic problem, seeing as it’s not a one-off.”