Alleged oil spill a matter for Council, says EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency has said that an alleged oil spill at Ettalong Beach was not on a licensed premises and was therefore a matter for Central Coast Council, not a matter for the Agency.

The spill was reported to the agency and the council in July by Mr Paul Rasmussen, from Port Douglas, who said he regularly visited the Peninsula to see his mother.

He said that by the time a council ranger arrived on scene, about three hours later, the pollution was hard to spot as it had dissipated.

Mr Rasmussen said Ettalong may not gain the attention of the Barrier Reef but its beautiful water ways, oysters, fish and ability for children to swim are just as important and precious.

"Living close to the Barrier Reef, I'm acutely aware of what I see entering the ocean and what damage can be caused,'' he said.

"These open drains need to be monitored closely by council with a view to eventually getting rid of them.

"There must be a better system than to allow the street contents of the Peninsula and whatever irresponsible people pour down it to flow into the waterways via open drains.

"I don't think I would eat fish caught near those drains ever again, after seeing the black sludge pouring out,'' he said.

"The quantity was enormous."

Council staff would not provide details to Peninsula News, stating that the council would respond only directly to the person who notified it.

SOURCE:

Email, 11 Jul 2019

Interview (Merilyn Vale), 17 July 2019

Paul Rasmussen, Port Douglas