Yarraville residents are calling for better regulation of the industries surrounding Stony Creek after an unknown substance polluted the creek earlier this month.
The unknown substance turned the creek bright orange on February 10, prompting an Environment Protection Authority (EPA) investigation into what the substance.
Last week, the EPA advised residents to avoid contact with the creek downstream of St Leonards Avenue as it worked to determine the source of the spill and monitored the creek for potential contaminants.
Yarraville residents were also advised not to drink water from the creek, to keep pets away from the water and not let pets drink the water, as well as not to use the creek water for domestic or recreational use and not to consume any animal caught in the water.
Yarraville West resident Sue Vittori said the February 10 spill was the latest in a long line of spills into the creek, including an industrial dye spill in 2019 which turned the creek red.
In 2018, the creek was polluted and its fish life killed following a chemical fire upstream.
Ms Vittori said she was “just sick” of the seeking the creek contaminated.
“It regularly happens still and something needs to be done to regulate the industries along the creek,” she said.
Friends of Stony Creek president Steve Wilson echoed Ms Vittori’s concerns and urged the EPA to do more to protect the creek.
He said the EPA should install sensors along the creek to monitor pollution levels, as well as following up with businesses in the area to ensure they are complying with EPA regulations.
He is also concerned about the impact of runoff from the Bradmill development about 800 to 1000 metres from creek.
The EPA did not respond to questions about what it is doing to regulate industries around the creek and or how it is protecting the creek from incidents such as the one on February 10.
