Oyster farms in the Orongo Bay area near Russell and in the upper Waikare Inlet have been closed due to high levels of faecal contamination. The contamination in the Orongo Bay area is believed to have been caused by human effluent, Northland Health says. The closure follows testing in the Orongo Bayarea last week which showed contamination in oyster stocks. The closure, until March 16, will also affect oyster farms in the upper Waikare Inlet as a precautionary measure. People are also advised not to collect shellfish from Russell to Okiato Point and the Waikare Inlet during the same time period. Environmental Health officers say there are a number of possible sources of the contamination, including the accidental sewage spill in the Waitangi River estuary 12 days ago, effluent run-off from properties in the Orongo Bay area, or discharges from the high number of boats normally in the area at this time of the year. ``We believe it is unlikely this has resulted from the accidental spill at Waitangi, but it is obviously a possibility,'' Far North District Council utilities manager Peter Johnson said. A routine survey of private on-site effluent treatment systems in the Orongo Bay area has been brought forward and will be carried out as a matter of urgency, he said.
