Surprise at city beach's water rating

Stan Mathews isn't worried about the risk of illness at his local swimming spot, Otumoetai Beach. Photo / John Borren

A Tauranga harbour beach has rated worst in the Bay for water quality, but the city's coastal beaches are up there with the best in the country.

Otumoetai Beach, at the end of Otumoetai Rd and Beach Rd, has a 10 per cent or higher risk of illness for people swimming at the site due to times of high bacteria levels. It was the only beach site in the Bay of Plenty to be given a "caution" rating on the newly launched Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (Lawa) website that lists the water quality grade of swimming spots throughout the country.

Freshwater swimming spot data has been on the website since March and the water quality of beaches was made available on Sunday.

Mount Main Beach and Omanu Beach were ranked as "very low risk" of bacterial infection, the best grade available.

Omokoroa Beach, Pilot Bay and Rangataua Bay were the next best grade, "low risk".

Athenree Boat Ramp and Fergusson Park were "moderate risk".

Kulim Ave resident Stan Mathews said in summer, he regularly swam at the Otumoetai Beach and also went floundering there throughout the year. "I've never been sick. It does surprise me that it's such low quality."

The risk of illness would not put him off continuing his recreational activities in the area.

Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith told the Bay of Plenty Times the region's beaches were generally of good quality.

"Of the 21 sites monitored in the Bay of Plenty region, only one is a caution risk. That compares with one in seven nationally."

Dr Smith said the more challenging issue in the Bay was fresh water quality in the lakes and rivers.

Tourism Bay of Plenty head of marketing and communications Kristin Dunne said the results of the water quality survey were pleasing, although not surprising.

"We all love our region and this shows we take great care of it for ourselves, future generations and visitors.

"The Bay of Plenty is internationally renowned for 125 kilometres of pristine white beaches and beautiful, abundant marine aquaculture. Our beaches, waterfalls and rivers are one of the key reasons that this is the place where Kiwis come to be Kiwis and feel most at home on holiday."

Ms Dunne said the data would be an important selling point internationally to show the "unspoilt nature" of the Bay's coastline, marine life and aquaculture.

"We will be utilising this in our marketing next year to make the most benefit of these results".

Bay of Plenty Regional Council environmental scientist Paul Scholes said Otumoetai could be impacted by occasional flood flows from the Wairoa River and city sewage and stormwater infrastructural problems such as sewer line blockages resulting in overflows of sewage.