Water quality of our beaches and waterways

Following recent flooding, we have been independently testing the water quality of our local beaches and estuaries. The results are shown in the table below.

We only test for faecal matter, not other contaminants, such as hydrocarbons and pesticides, which could be present after flooding. 

Our independent testing finished on 28 June 2022.  Council will resume water quality testing as part of the Beachwatch Program later this year.

Results shown are according to the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines.

Date Location Result
28 June 2022   Torakina Beach, Brunswick Heads  Good / Safe for bathing
 28 June 2022 Simpsons Creek, Brunswick Heads   Good / Safe for bathing
 28 June 2022  South Golden Beach  Good / Safe for bathing
 28 June 2022 New Brighton Beach   Good / Safe for bathing
 28 June 2022 Tallow Beach   Good / Safe for bathing
 28 June 2022 Clarkes Beach, Byron Bay   Good / Safe for bathing
 28 June 2022 Main Beach, Byron Bay   Good / Safe for bathing
21 June 2022 Torakina, Brunswick Heads Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children.
21 June 2022 Simpsons Creek, Brunswick Heads Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children.
21 June 2022 South Golden Beach Good / Safe for bathing
21 June 2022 New Brighton Beach Good / Safe for bathing 
21 June 2022 Tallow Beach Good / Safe for bathing
21 June 2022 Clarkes Beach, Byron Bay Good / Safe for bathing
21 June 2022 Main Beach, Byron Bay Good / Safe for bathing
14 June 2022 Torakina, Brunswick Heads Good / Safe for bathing
14 June 2022 Simpsons Creek, Brunswick Heads Good / Safe for bathing
14 June 2022 South Golden Beach Good / Safe for bathing
14 June 2022 New Brighton Beach Good / Safe for bathing
14 June 2022 Tallow Beach
 Good / Safe for bathing
14 June 2022  Clarkes Beach, Byron Bay Good / Safe for bathing 
14 June 2022 Main Beach, Byron Bay
 Good / Safe for bathing
7 June 2022 Torakina, Brunswick Heads Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children.
7 June 2022 Simpsons Creek, Brunswick Heads Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children.
7 June 2022 South Golden Beach  Good / Safe for bathing
7 June 2022 New Brighton Beach Good / Safe for bathing
7 June 2022 Tallow Beach  Good / Safe for bathing
7 June 2022 Clarkes Beach, Byron Bay Good / Safe for bathing
7 June 2022 Main Beach, Byron Bay Good / Safe for bathing
31 May 2022 Torakina Beach, Brunswick Heads  Bad / Bacterial levels indicate a substantially increased risk of illness to bathers. 
31 May 2022 Simpsons Creek, Brunswick Heads  Bad / Bacterial levels indicate a substantially increased risk of illness to bathers. 
31 May 2022 South Golden Beach Bad / Bacterial levels indicate a substantially increased risk of illness to bathers. 
31 May 2022 New Brighton Beach
 Bad / Bacterial levels indicate a substantially increased risk of illness to bathers. 
31 May 2022 Tallow Beach  Poor / Substantially increased risk of illness to bathers.
31 May 2022 Clarkes Beach, Byron Bay Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children.
31 May 2022 Main Beach, Byron Bay
 Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children.
26 May 2022 Torakina Beach, Brunswick Heads  Bad / Bacterial levels indicate a substantially increased risk of illness to bathers.
26 May 2022 Simpsons Creek, Brunswick Heads Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children.
26 May 2022 South Golden Beach Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children.
26 May 2022 New Brighton Beach Poor / Substantially increased risk of illness to bathers.
26 May 2022 Tallow Beach  Poor / Substantially increased risk of illness to bathers.
26 May 2022 Clarkes Beach, Byron Bay Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children.
26 May 2022  Main Beach, Byron Bay Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children.
17 May 2022 Torakina Beach, Brunswick Heads  Poor / Substantially increased risk of illness to bathers
17 May 2022 Simpsons Creek, Brunswick Heads Bad / Bacterial levels indicate a substantially increased risk of illness to bathers
17 May 2022 South Golden Beach Poor / Substantially increased risk of illness to bathers
17 May 2022 New Brighton Beach Poor / Substantially increased risk of illness to bathers
17 May 2022 Tallow Beach  Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children. 
17 May 2022  Clarkes Beach, Byron Bay Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children. 
17 May 2022  Main Beach, Byron Bay Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children. 
10 May 2022  Torakina Beach, Brunswick Heads  Poor/Substantially increased risk of illness to bathers
10 May 2022 Simpsons Creek, Brunswick Heads Poor / Substantially increased risk of illness to bathers
10 May 2022 South Golden Beach Poor / Substantially increased risk of illness to bathers
10 May 2022 New Brighton Beach
 Poor / Substantially increased risk of illness to bathers
10 May 2022  Tallow Beach  Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children.
10 May 2022 Clarkes Beach, Byron Bay Good / Safe for bathing
10 May 2022  Main Beach, Byron Bay Good / Safe for bathing
3 May 2022 Torakina Beach, Brunswick Heads  Good / Safe for bathing
3 May 2022 Simpsons Creek, Brunswick Heads  Good / Safe for bathing
3 May 2022 South Golden Beach  Good / Safe for bathing
3 May 2022  New Brighton Beach  Good / Safe for bathing
3 May 2022 Tallow Beach, Byron Bay  Good / Safe for bathing
3 May 2022  Clarkes Beach, Byron Bay Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children.
3 May 2022  Main Beach, Byron Bay   Good / Safe for bathing
26 April 2022 Torakina Beach, Brunswick Heads
 Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children. 
26 April 2022 Simpsons Creek, Brunswick Heads  Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children.
26 April 2022 Tallow Beach, Byron Bay Good / Safe for bathing
26 April 2022 Clarkes Beach, Byron Bay Good / Safe for bathing
19 April 2022 Torakina Beach, Brunswick Heads Good / Safe for bathing
19 April 2022 Simpsons Creek, Brunswick Heads Good / Safe for bathing
19 April 2022 Tallow Beach, Byron Bay Good / Safe for bathing
19 April 2022 Clarkes Beach, Byron Bay Good / Safe for bathing
19 April 2022 Main Beach, Byron Bay Good / Safe for bathing
12 April 2022 Torakina Beach, Brunswick Heads
 Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children. 
12 April 2022  Simpsons Creek, Brunswick Heads Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children. 
12 April 2022  Tallow Beach, Byron Bay
 Good / Safe for bathing
12 April 2022 Clarkes Beach, Byron Bay Good / Safe for bathing
12 April 2022 Main Beach, Byron Bay Good / Safe for bathing
5 April 2022 Torakina Beach, Brunswick Heads
 Good / Safe for bathing
5 April 2022  Simpsons Creek, Brunswick Heads  Poor / Substantially increased risk of illness to bathers. 
5 April 2022

Tallow Beach, Byron Bay

 Good / Safe for bathing
5 April 2022 

Clarkes Beach, Byron Bay

 Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children. 
5 April 2022 Main Beach, Byron Bay
 Fair / Increased risk of illness to bathers, particularly those with lower immune function such as the elderly and young children. 

Please note that a single water quality result is at least 24 hours old before being received and as such water quality may have improved or worsened since then.  

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