Dunedin's beaches safe from bacteria

All Dunedin's beaches were declared safe from bacteria today after seaborne sewage forced the closure of two popular surfing sites yesterday.

Water quality tests on Tuesday forced Dunedin City Council to close St Kilda and Middle beaches to the public after elevated levels of bacteria were detected.

Strong winds and sea currents were blamed for sweeping a sewage plume towards shore from an outfall at Lawyers Head on the south coast of the Otago Peninsula at the eastern end of St Kilda Beach.

But a city council spokeswoman told NZPA test results today were all clear and both beaches had been declared safe for swimming, surfing and paddling.

- NZPA