Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) and Melbourne Water are warning people to avoid coming in contact with water from Stony Creek following the West Footscray factory fire.
EPA, local government and MFB officers are working to contain the flow of fire water used to battle the West Footscray fire but significant run off has made it into the local waterway.
The run off is causing significant odour.
EPA Chief Environmental Scientist Dr Andrea Hinwood said she was expecting the contamination to cause fish deaths and warned people:
- Don’t eat fish from Stony Creek
- Don’t let your dogs swim in Stony Creek
- Don’t walk along the edge of Stony Creek
- Avoid Cruickshank Park in Yarraville
- Avoid eating fish from the lower part of the Yarra River from the West Gate Bridge, as a precaution
- Seek medical help if you feel unwell and follow the same advice as you would for managing smoke
Signs have also been erected in local areas warning people of the contamination, but Dr Hinwood encourage people to advise family and friends, especially the elderly.
EPA officers are continuing to monitor air quality in the western suburbs with mobile equipment deployed to keep residents informed.
With rain expected, the air quality could deteriorate. The stationary air monitoring is still showing reasonable quality either as good or fair, but that could change.
For the latest advice and information visit emergency.vic.gov.au