For many beachgoers, the worst part of a day at the beach can be the sand – but for a group of Blackmans Bay locals, rolling around in it was a way of making their concerns heard.
Instead of taking to the water, local swimmers took to the sand on Saturday as part of a community protest calling for answers over ongoing water-quality concerns at Blackmans Bay Beach.
The “Swim on the Sand” gathering follows a July announcement that the middle section of Blackmans Bay Beach had been downgraded from fair to poor under the Derwent Estuary Program’s long-term recreational water-quality ratings.
The southern section was already rated poor, while the northern section improved from fair to good.
The ratings are based on five years of monitoring, with testing measuring levels of enterococci bacteria, which can indicate contamination from stormwater runoff and other sources.
Kingborough Council subsequently extended its no-swim advisory from the southern end of the beach northwards to roughly the playground, while the northern section remains rated good.
For residents who regularly use the beach, the issue is about more than a water-quality rating.
Kate Tenni, from the Blackmans Bay Community Association, said improved water quality was identified as a common concern at the association’s August annual general meeting.
“With the local elections happening, we thought now was a good time for a community gathering, when there is attention around these matters,” she said.
The idea of a “sand swim” came from residents being advised not to swim in the water.
“We came up with the idea of having a sand swim because we’ve been advised not to swim in the water,” Ms Tenni said.
She said residents wanted the issue to receive greater attention beyond the local level.
“The solutions that council have come up with are costly, and there’s limited funds, so we really need to push this up the chain of government and bring it to the attention of state government or further,” she said.
Blackmans Bay Community Association president Chloe Bibari said the event was intended to bring residents together and encourage constructive discussion.
“We’re really keen for today’s community gathering, it’s a positive way to unite people, not separate them,” Ms Bibari said.
“We all have a part to play, and are all hoping for a resolution”.
The water-quality issue has been the subject of investigations for several years.
There are four stormwater outfalls at Blackmans Bay Beach, three of them concentrated at the southern end.
Council says those three outlets collect run off from more than 3,000 properties, around 20 kilometres of roads and about 75 kilometres of underground pipes, carrying stormwater into the southern end of the bay.
In December last year, Council conducted a targeted investigation using fluorescein dye to track how stormwater discharged from the outlets moved through the bay.
The non-toxic, biodegradable dye was monitored using water sampling, drones and a floating device known as a drogue to help understand tidal movement and how stormwater disperses.
Council has said the investigation is complicated by the size of the catchment and the way water moves through the bay.
The Derwent Estuary Program has also identified relatively poor flushing in the bay as a factor that can allow contaminants to remain near the shoreline for longer.
Kingborough Council Acting Mayor Christian Street said Council understood the community wanted answers.
“Council has spent years investigating the problem, collected hundreds of water samples, engaged independent specialists and traced contamination through the stormwater system,” he said.
Mr Street said the relationship between stormwater contamination and beach water quality was not always straightforward, with the size of the catchment adding to the complexity.
The shape of the bay also meant water did not flush as quickly as at some other beaches in the Derwent, he said.
Mr Street said options including moving stormwater discharge further offshore or treating it before it reached the beach presented significant challenges, including cost and a lack of suitable space for infrastructure such as constructed wetlands.
“There are no quick or simple solutions to improve the water quality at the beach,” he said.
“Council remains committed to working with Tas Water and the Derwent Estuary Program to pursue practical improvements and improve water quality over time.”
With the warmer months approaching, water quality is likely to remain a focus for residents who swim, paddle and spend time along the Blackmans Bay foreshore.
For the residents of Blackmans Bay, continued collaboration between the community, council and relevant authorities remains central to finding a long-term solution and protecting the beach for the people who live, swim and gather there.
