Locals at Mullaloo Beach in Perth's north are feeling vindicated after a health warning was issued over a suspected algal bloom following their ongoing complaints. The community is now pushing for answers about what's causing the problem.

Mullaloo Beach

Mullaloo Beach, located in the northern part of Perth, has been closed due to a health warning issued concerning a suspected algal bloom. This action comes after continuous complaints from local residents. The community, feeling validated by the health warning, is now seeking explanations regarding the cause of the contamination.



Mystery contamination shuts beach in Perth

One of Perth's most popular beaches, now a public health risk. These locals first noticed an algal bloom at Mullaloo Beach in January, and two months on the situation has only worsened. Since then it's just been getting worse and worse. The water quality is just deteriorating and continuing to be brown and murky and as a community we've just been trying to get answers. They say they've been left frustrated by the lack of action from authorities. After months of reporting health issues, the Department of Health finally issued a warning advising the public to avoid any discoloured water. There's too much going on to deny there's a problem here. People have been contacting the council, contacting the Department of Health, Pollution Watch and to only have this being addressed right now, it's just too late. For regular swimmers like Steph, that warning came too late. When I came out of the water, I came up for a shower and then noticed, I started to itch and noticed that I'd come up with a rash over my arms and my legs. And like many locals, she's now hesitant to get back into the water. You just see the water and it's not pleasant, it's just not, it's not the beach that I know and that I've been swimming in for the last few years, it's very different. The state government has called in an independent consultant to help deal with the ongoing water quality issues, with sampling of the suspected algal bloom now underway. This community hopeful it will provide the answers they've been desperately searching for. The local community, this is our temple, this is our beach, for all of us and without it and seeing what's actually happening to this beautiful asset, it's so incredibly disappointing and that's why we want answers. To bring back their beloved beach. For more UN videos visit www.un.org

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