Updated 9:10am, Friday January 12: The Latrobe Council has reopened a section of Freers Beach in Shearwater following the detection of E. coli earlier this week.
Mayor Peter Freshney thanked the community for their cooperation during the temporary closure while additional sampling could be undertaken, with safe recreational limits meaning the beach can now reopen.
“We appreciate the community’s understanding and compliance with the precautionary measure taken to ensure public safety,” he said.
“The health and safety of the community remain the top priority and the Council is committed to maintaining the highest standards in environmental health.”
The Council say staff will continue regular water quality testing of high-use areas within the Latrobe Council area over the peak summer season.
1:15pm, Wednesday January 10: Shearwater’s Freers Beach has been closed to swimmers after weekly water quality testing detected an elevated level of E. coli.
The Latrobe Council says the beach will remain closed as a ‘precautionary measure’ until further testing can be undertaken.
“Signage has been installed in the affected areas, please comply with these instructions,” the council said in a warning issued online.
The closure extends from Rice St in Port Sorell’s north to North Freers Beach at the Port Sorell Surf Life Saving Club.
Hawley Beach and the section of Freers Beach from Rice St south to Panatana Family Park remain unaffected and will remain open.
“A re-test will be completed today (Wednesday) and a further update will be provided on Friday 12 January 2024.”
