Raw sewage spotted overflowing near popular Corsair Bay, Christchurch.
Video / NZ Herald
A public health warning has been issued for a popular Christchurch swim spot forced to close after beach-goers noticed a foul odour filling the area.
One would-be swimmer told the Herald they noticed an “ungodly, heavy smell” as soon as they opened their car door on arrival at Corsair Baythis afternoon.
A Christchurch City Council spokeswoman said contractors were looking into the issue, before advising at 2.30pm that the beach, including the carpark and tracks, had been closed while contractors investigate the stench.
“There has been an unexpected sewer leak at Corsair Bay,” the council said in a post on social media, saying the beach would be closed as the council investigates “both the extent and the source of the issue”.
Health New Zealand has issued a health warning after being informed by authorities of “a discharge of untreated sewage into Motu-kauati-iti Corsair Bay”.
“Water contaminated by human matter may contain a range of disease-causing micro-organisms such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa,” National Public Health Service’s Dr Imogen Evans said.
Eating fish or shellfish from these sites should be avoided, Health New Zealand said.
Raw sewage flowed into the busy Corsair Bay beach at Christchurch. Photo / Supplied
The beach-goer told the Herald sewage water could be seen “flowing down the pathway on to the beach itself and probably into the sea from there”.
Video footage shows a small stream of water flowing down a path towards the beach from a leak near a toilet block, where a puddle can be seen bubbling.
“Other people were commenting on the smell,” the witness said, adding that it “had me retching”.
Reacting to the news on social media, one commenter said they were “not happy reading this after swimming and eating lunch today”.
Many reported smelling the odour over the past two days in the area, one saying “it stunk there yesterday”, another adding the area “absolutely stunk” last night.
The situation comes as people around the country flock to the beach as a heat-streak affects much of New Zealand.
