City beach ‘best’ for water quality

Eastern Beach has finished in a tie for last summer’s best water quality, according to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
Drysdale’s The Dell, Portarlington and St Leonards were also equal first, giving the region a clean sweep of the EPA’s “best beaches” along Port Philip and Corio bays.
Frankston finished last on the 36-beach list, with Werribee ranked 35th.
The Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula beaches topped the list despite rain around the end of the year threatening deterioration in water quality.
“While it was quite a dry summer, Victoria experienced prolonged downpours around the Christmas / new year period that contributed to extended periods of poor water quality at all of the 36 beaches,” EPA applied sciences group manager Anthonyr Boxshall said.
“Unfortunately for beachgoers, most of this rain fell just before or during weekends and usually just before warmer weather, which is when Port Phillip Bay beaches are at their busiest.”