By Jeremy Sollars
The Southern Downs Regional Council is instructing the public to not enter the Condamine River following a sewage spill near Federation Park in Warwick, just upstream from the O. O. Madsen Bridge.
A council statement says a pump at the Condamine Street pump station near Bunnings failed in recent days “due to a disruption to Ergon’s power supply”.
The statement says the failure resulted in “an overflow of untreated wastewater to the Condamine River”.
“The Department of Environment and Science (DES), and the Darling Downs Public Health Unit have been advised and the affected area of parkland has been cleaned, however a quantity of wastewater has reached the river,” the statement said.
“The river has a very healthy flow at present but members of the public are instructed to not swim or fish until pollution signs are removed.
“Water quality testing will be carried out and once results indicate the river has returned to its normal condition pollution signs will be removed.
“SDRC has taken all reasonable measures and will continue to liaise with DES during this time.”
The council is currently under investigation by the State Government over sewage overflows from the Stanthorpe Wastewater Treatment Plant into Quart Pot Creek during heavy rain over the past two years.
