Lake Rosebery in Tullah has been closed to the public following an oil spill that could keep the destination off-limits for up to a week.
Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) has declared a prohibited area, “encompassing all waters” within the West Coast lake, effective from January 15 to January 22.
Hydro Tasmania alerted the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) on Monday after detecting an “oily substance” on the lake near the Henry Bay Boat Ramp.
The boat ramp was promptly closed and will remain shut over the coming days.
“The EPA deployed marine pollution-trained staff and resources to Tullah on the evening of January 13,” an EPA spokesperson told Pulse.
“The source and type of the oil is yet to be determined. Investigations into the cause are ongoing.”
The EPA is coordinating with multiple agencies, including the West Coast Council, to manage the response.
Lake Rosebery is a man-made reservoir popular for swimming, fishing and boating.
MAST have prohibited vessels from entering the lake without explicit approval from the EPA, with laws in place that give police the power to intercept and remove any person found within the exclusion zone.
