Darwin Waterfront Recreation Lagoon
The Recreation Lagoon is an artificial beach that has been constructed using imported sand fill to a depth of 0.5 to 1 metre on top of a geo-textile fabric on the natural surface.
Mr Coleman, CEO, Darwin Waterfront Corporation said subsequent to the report yesterday that there was a foul smelling sludge under the sand at the Recreation Lagoon we investigated and have found no evidence of an oily sludge.
“We confirm there is a slightly, more darker layer, that is granular in texture that does not stain your skin, but acknowledge it does smell.”
“Visitor safety at the Darwin Waterfront Precinct and the amenity of the area is our paramount concern,” he said.
“We had environmental consultants down there this morning carrying out further tests and while we are waiting for those results to come back they have confirmed it is a naturally occurring anoxic layer which also occurs at places like Lake Alexander.
“We have no concerns about the quality of the water and have an independent environment consultant who tests the water weekly to carry out microbiological tests for enterococci, we test for Blue/Green algae and for chemicals such as hydrocarbons, metals, nutrients including nitrogen and phosphorous, said Mr Coleman.”
Mr Coleman said the Corporation would investigate how to push the layer down deeper through mechanical oxygenation.
Media contact: Nichole Taylor – 8999 5103