Mullaloo Beach Water Quality Update
At our last Open Community meeting, we heard from Kim Allen, a Local Community Advocate on all things Mullaloo Beach. Kim provided an overview of the issues Mullaloo Beach has been experiencing over the last few years, which many of us have also experienced. Top of the list is the change in beach water quality at our beach, which he reminded us is in a Class A Marine Park –
Other issues our beach has faced include the deposition of microplastics, such as cotton bud stems and detonator shock cord . Detonator Shot cords, which were obviously a result of the dumping of tonnes of limestone blasted from a quarry to build the new Ocean Reef harbour wall.
The issues with the microplastics seem to have eased, but the water quality issues persist.
The pictures speak for themselves and have captured discharges from the Beenyup Outfall, which impact the beach water quality at Mullaloo. The Beenyyup Outfall serves a growing population and is only 1 km out to sea. Way back in 1988 it was recommended that it should be extended to 5.8 km but as yet there has been no action on this.
Independent Investigation into Water Quality and Local Current Flows at Mullaloo Beach - January 2025
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation instructed a report by a company called O2 to investigate the water quality and local current flows at Mullaloo. This report was peer reviewed by UNSW Water Research Laboratory, and considering the issues the public continued to experience, it provided some surprising conclusions.
What are the Challenges with Engaging with Government Departments?
Beach water quality is 'handled' by multiple agencies, with what appears to be very little coordination or collaboration. In addition, there is a complexity of different scientific disciplines and types of water testing.
We don't want to wait until we have similar issues that South Australia has experienced. We have already had a known Chlorophyll exceedance incidence.
What do we need?
- Improved spectral testing regime by CoJ and increased frequency
- Water quality monitoring buoys around the zone of impact
- Daily aerial imagery from SLSWA helicopter
- Sediment testing (Grab and core)
- Liaison with SA government on the approach to Phytoplankton testing
- Establishment of a beach water quality community reference group
Community Opinion on Improvements
- Extend the pipe to 5.8km as recommended in 1988
- Increase treatment to Quaternary and Tertiary (In line with EU standards)
- Improve water quality monitoring
- Understand changes to the marine environment
- Revisit operating license conditions
- Form a water quality community reference group
Thanks to Kim for his presentation and tireless work on keeping our Community informed, enabling us to engage on this important issue.
At our meeting Caitlin Collins MLA advised that there will be a follow-up community forum to discuss the Mullaloo Water Quality investigation. A great opportunity to hear directly from experts in various fields and ask any questions you have! Thursday 27 November 2025 5.30 pm at Mullaloo Surf Life Saving club.
Presentation slide are available to view - here
Disclaimer from Kim
- I’m not a scientist and have no formal qualifications in this area.
- The information in my talk this evening is for general discussion only. I am making no allegations. I will highlight what I believe are inadequacies of current legislation and challenges regarding inter-agency collaboration on important issues relating to coastal water quality and the activation of appropriate management plans.
- Views expressed are my own and are based on observations, materials and facts that are available in the public domain.
