Peninsula Community Access Edition 378
News Phone 4325 7369 Fax 4321 0940
12 October 2015
Leopard seal comes ashore at Ocean Beach A leopard seal chose Ocean Beach to come ashore and spend a day of rest on Sunday, September 27. The Antarctic mammal, which was over two metres long, was spotted by a passer-by who called the 24-hour hotline of volunteer marine mammal rescue organisation Orrca about its presence at Umina around 9am on the Sunday. Orrca president Mr Ronny Ling said he happily made the trip from Sydney to spend the day at Umina observing the seal. “Our immediate response to the call was to get people down there and we had wonderful support from the Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club and the local National Parks and Wildlife Service,” Mr Ling said. Mr Ling said only a handful of these predators get into the currents and make the journey this far north. “They are important to the food chain down there. “They are the Antarctic equivalent of the Polar Bear in the
A leopard seal spent the day at Ocean Beach Umina recently
north in terms of their position in the food chain,” he said. Their spot at the top end of the food chain means leopard seals are healthy in numbers and they are solitary animals so it is not unusual to see them alone. Mr Ling said leopard seals had
been known to turn up on Ocean Beach from time to time because of its proximity to Lion Island which is home to a colony of Little Penguins. “When you are a seal you like to eat big fish like salmon and tailor but what they really like to eat is penguins,” he said.
Mr Ling said the seal, which was not identified as female or male, was most likely ashore at Umina for rest and recuperation and it was not unusual to see seals on land. Mr Ling and other volunteers took the time to observe its body shape, the condition of its eyes,
nose and mouth and came to the conclusion that it was in fine health. “It only had a few battle scars,” he said. The observations helped Orrca to identify the same seal when it came ashore at Stockton five days later. Although it is not unusual to see a leopard seal on land, Mr Ling said it was important to keep at least 40 metres away from the mammal. “They are very fast on land and they can lunge big distances. “They also have big teeth and they are not afraid to use them. “They are very unpredictable and their demeanor can change quickly,” he said. The Central Coast is home to significant numbers of Orrca volunteers, Mr Ling said. The organisation is now in its 30th year of rescuing marine mammals and does not accept any government funding. Interview, 7 Oct 2015 Ronny Ling, ORRCA Reporter, Jackie Pearson
Local beaches are given mixed ratings Pearl Beach, Umina Beach and Killcare were graded good in this year’s NSW State of the Beaches report, but other local beaches did not fare so well. Ocean Beach was rated as poor in the latest report and deemed to be suitable for swimming 82 per cent of the time. Ocean Beach can be impacted by polluted outflow from Brisbane Water, according to the report. “It is recommended that swimming be avoided during and up to one day after rainfall or if there are signs of stormwater pollution,” the report said. The Peninsula’s estuarine beaches, Pretty Beach baths, Ettalong Channel, Woy Woy baths, and Patonga Creek were graded poor. The report said they were frequently suitable for swimming during dry weather. “However, elevated levels of enterococci were recorded following light rainfall,” the report said. “Elevated enterococci levels were often recorded during both dry and wet weather conditions at Ettalong Channel … and Woy Woy Baths. Enterococci is a bacteria excreted in faeces and rarely present in
unpolluted waters. Beachwatch tests for enterococci because it is considered to be the single preferred indicator of faeces in marine water. Beaches rated good are suitable for swimming most of the time. A poor rating means the location is susceptible to faecal pollution and not always suitable for swimming. “Swimming at the estuarine beaches is best avoided during and for up to three days following rainfall or it there are any signs of stormwater pollution. In terms of ocean baths, Pearl Beach rockpool was graded as poor. “Water quality was frequently suitable for swimming during dry weather conditions, with elevated enterococci levels recorded following 5mm or more of rainfall. “It is recommended that swimming in the baths be avoided during and for up to one day following rainfall or if there are any signs of pollution,” the report said. Elevated levels of microbial contamination were recorded at most swimming sites in late January and early February, due to very heavy rainfall. Twenty-four hour rainfall totals exceeded 200 mm at Ettalong and
86 mm at Killcare on January 18. In April 2015, several sewage pumping stations overflowed to local waterways due to power outages caused by the East Coast Low storm event. The wet weather conditions and power outages caused bypasses at the Woy Woy sewage treatment plant. Gosford Council issued a public health alert advising the community to avoid swimming and other activities at all public waterways due to the potential health risk. Swimming sites graded as poor have permanent advisory signs recommending that swimming should be avoided for up to three days after rain in estuarine/lagoon environments and up to one day after rain at beaches. According to the BeachWatch report, Gosford Council investigates algal blooms, sewage contamination and stormwater pollution at designated swimming sites. “If algal blooms are confirmed, the council erects algal bloom signs and liaises with the NSW Office of Water’s Hunter Regional Algal Coordinating Committee (HRACC). “If sewage contamination is suspected temporary signs are
immediately erected and a media release may be issued. “Only when water quality results indicate that the site is suitable for swimming are the temporary signs removed. “If stormwater pollution is suspected temporary signs are erected.” Council has approved works for the $15–17 million Cockle Bay Towns Sewerage Project. This project intends to deliver an improved sewer service to properties located within Empire Bay. According to the report, works undertaken to improve the quality of stormwater entering receiving waters include: installation of stormwater quality improvement devices such as gross pollutant traps, trash racks, silt traps and basins; vegetative filter systems and constructed wetlands; installation of dog poo bins in popular dog walking areas; stormwater community education projects; riparian rehabilitation; and enforcement of the council’s erosion, sediment and nutrient control regulations. “Council conducted an upgrade to Pearl Beach Rockpool, with works including the installation of gutters to improve pool flushing with a 1.5 m
tide. “The pool is cleaned four times a year and relies on tides to flush and top it up with fresh water. “Gosford Council has invested in stormwater quality improvement devices at a number of key strategic locations including drainage outlets at Umina and Ettalong. “These devices are regularly inspected and maintained as part of the council’s routine maintenance program. “Coastal Zone Management Plans are being implemented for all catchments within the local government area. “These plans provide direction and guidance for the management of estuaries and their catchments to achieve long-term improvements in waterway health. “Plans have been developed for the Lower Hawkesbury River (2009), Brisbane Water (2012) and Pearl Beach Lagoon (2014). Report, 7 Oct 2015 State of the Beaches 2014-15 Central Coast NSW NSW Government Office of Environment and Heritage
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