Queensland's Gold Coast council has come under scrutiny as the state's environment department, DESI, accuses them of misleading conduct in relation to a significant sewage leak that occurred earlier this year. The leak, which went undetected from January to April, saw a staggering 450 million litres of raw sewage being released into the Albert River, raising concerns about the environmental impact and the council's response to the crisis. DESI's investigation into the matter led to the council being placed under an "enforceable undertaking", compelling them to implement $2.1m worth of improvements and express regret over the incident.
The council's Acting Mayor, Donna Gates, maintained that there were no lasting repercussions from the spill, attributing this to the river's swift flow during periods of heavy rain when the leak occurred. However, DESI highlighted significant environmental impacts, including plummeting oxygen levels and increased concentrations of ammonia in the affected river stretch during the 88-day leak period. Despite the council's claim that the necessary improvements were already planned and would not incur extra costs for ratepayers, the enforcement action by DESI suggests otherwise, emphasizing the need for accountability and corrective measures to safeguard the environment.