Popular Gold Coast swimming spot Tallebudgera Creek shut down after disgusting discovery

A popular swimming and fishing spot was closed after human feces were found in the water.

Tallebudgera Creek on the Gold Coast was off limits to the public this weekend after authorities identified poor water quality as a public health risk.

The creek was hit by heavy rain, turning the water a murky brown color.

The rain is believed to have washed dirt and debris through the region’s waterways. Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

Tallebudgera Creek Beach is patrolled at weekends by volunteers from the Neptune Royal Life Saving Club.

Volunteer Yvonne Curtis collected bags of faeces for her shift on Saturday, but said the disgusting sight did not deter beachgoers from entering the water.

“We had a lot of trouble keeping people out of the water,” she told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

‘But most of them were convinced when I showed them the bag (with poop).

The normally pristine creek is often voted one of the world’s best swimming spots, but has been closed many times in the past twelve months, usually after heavy rain (photos stock photo from Tallebudgera Creek)

‘You literally couldn’t see 100mm into the water, it’s so dirty. If it looks like it, we always close the beach for health reasons.’

Ms Curtis added that the water quality was ‘pretty terrible’ and did not ‘wash away’ as quickly as it usually does after a rain shower.

The beach was patrolled by Gold Coast City lifeguards on weekdays and reopened to the public on Monday.

Recent Libertarian state election candidate Cathy Osborne used social media to blame the local sewage system for the dirty water and called for its improvement.

“Despite the rain, reports and testing over the past month have revealed alarming levels of sewage contamination in and around the area,” she wrote.

‘It’s heartbreaking to see this happening on what was once voted Australia’s cleanest beach.

‘This is a shame – not only for the residents, who pay some of the highest rates in the country, but also for the tourists and GC locals who visit this once pristine environment and are denied the opportunity to enjoy this once pristine environment to enjoy.

“Both levels of government need to stop passing the buck and solve this damn problem once and for all! Enough is enough.’

Swimmers have been advised to stay out of the water for three days after heavy rain if it is an estuary or a creek, and one day for an open beach (photo: the dirty water at the creek)

A volunteer lifesaver removed human feces from the beach, but this did not stop some swimmers from entering the water. Pictured is a closed sign on the beach

Tallebudgera Creek has closed several times in the last twelve months, usually after heavy rain.

Often voted one of the best swimming spots in the world, the creek was closed again a year ago after a major sewage leak.

The cause was a burst pipe at the local wastewater treatment plant in Palm Beach.

The Gold Coast Council last week warned swimmers to avoid waterways after heavy rain.

Water that is discoloured, cloudy or smelly should be avoided.

Shark Smart NSW is also warning swimmers to avoid cloudy or dirty water, especially after heavy rainfall, as the conditions attract bull sharks.