Beach visitors at North Coogee experienced an alarming sight on Friday when a vivid fluorescent green liquid began pouring into the ocean from a stormwater drain, creating concerns about potential pollution in the popular swimming spot.
Council Response and Public Frustration
Local residents quickly raised the alarm, with one concerned individual reporting they had contacted Randwick City Council only to receive what they described as a dismissive response. The council representative allegedly stated the substance was non-toxic and therefore not a cause for concern, according to social media posts from the frustrated resident.
"I'm so frustrated with the constant pollution of the beach from stormwater and the council not taking it seriously," the resident wrote. "We pay huge rates and the bare minimum is to keep our beach clean and not have to swim in rubbish and waste."
Identification of the Mystery Substance
Randwick City Council later issued an official public statement identifying the bright green liquid as fluorescein, a water-soluble dye commonly employed by plumbing professionals to trace water movement through sewer and stormwater systems.
The council assured the public that "the dye is non-toxic in the environment, odourless and does not affect humans", though they noted it might cause minor skin irritation in some individuals. They added that the striking colour should naturally fade within several hours.
Broader Water Quality Concerns in Sydney
This incident occurs against a backdrop of ongoing water quality issues affecting several of Sydney's popular bathing locations. The recently published 2024-25 NSW State of the Beaches report from the Department of Environment revealed concerning statistics about swimming site conditions across the state.
The comprehensive assessment found that approximately 21 percent of the 249 tested swimming locations statewide received either 'poor' or 'very poor' ratings, primarily due to faecal contamination concerns.
In Sydney specifically, multiple beaches recorded consistently poor results, including:
- Coogee and Malabar in the Randwick council area
- Shelly Beach in Manly
- Rose Bay Beach
- Murray Rose Pool
Foreshores Beach and Gymea Bay Baths in Port Hacking were the only two locations to receive the lowest possible 'very poor' rating in the Sydney region.
However, the report also highlighted positive results for many coastal areas, with 20 Sydney beaches earning the highest 'very good' rating. These included South Curl Curl, Avalon, Whale Beach, Palm Beach, several Cronulla beaches (Greenhills, Wanda, Elouera and North Cronulla), along with Maroubra Beach and Nielsen Park.
Bondi Beach and its neighbour Bronte both received 'good' ratings in the assessment.
Government advice recommends swimmers completely avoid any location rated 'very poor' and exercise caution at sites classified as 'poor', particularly following rainfall events when contamination risks typically increase.
