Even though the COVID-19 pandemic should mean people are mainly at home, the public should not wade, swim, fish or undertake any boating activity at Deep Creek until further notice.

Deep Creek is the estuary and intermittent closing and opening lake located between Hyland Park in the south and Valla Beach to the north.

The council has placed electronic message boards in both Valla Beach and Hyland Park advising of this closure.

The sewage spill was detected by council staff from a comparison of pump running times either side of the estuary.

The disparity of pump running times led to a survey of the pressure sewage pipe and ultimately to fluorescein testing of the submarine section of the pipe. The fluorescein testing identified that the leak originated from the section of pipe on the creek floor.

It is expected that a diving team will be on-site during the Easter period to assess the extent of the leak and the required repair.

The council will undertake the repair of the pipe at the earliest opportunity.

Council staff have notified the EPA and Fisheries of the sewage contamination.

For enquiries please contact council's Manager Water & Sewerage, Mr Richard Spain on 0418 468 368 or General Manager, Mr Michael Coulter on 0409 153 788.