Creek spill tests go on

AUTHORITIES were continuing to monitor Cardinia Creek this week after a fluoride spill.
The Gazette reported last week that up to a tonne of fluoride had leached into the creek through a corroded pipe in a water treatment plant at Cardinia Reservoir in Upper Beaconsfield.
Melbourne Water operations manager Kevin Hellier said there had been no visible fish deaths but there were signs water organisms had been affected by the fluoride.
“Sampling last week shows that numbers and diversity of aquatic insects were affected in the two to threekilometre stretch downstream of the plant,” he said.
“While there have been no visible signs of fish deaths, surveys undertaken on the weekend following the spill found eels but no other species.”
Mr Hellier said surveys suggested there had been no impact downstream of the plant.
“We will do some followup surveys to assess if there has been an impact on fish populations,” he said.
Melbourne Water is continuing to flush the creek with water from Cardinia Reservoir.