Locals heading to Wellington Point Reserve are being reminded to check water quality before entering the water, particularly after periods of heavy rainfall when conditions can change quickly.
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Wellington Point Reserve is one of 13 recreational swimming locations monitored across the Redlands Coast through an ongoing water quality program. The monitoring covers mainland beaches, Minjerribah and the Southern Moreton Bay Islands, with testing focused on detecting elevated levels of enterococci, a type of bacteria used to indicate faecal contamination in recreational waters.
Sampling increases during the warmer months when beaches and waterways attract more visitors. Redland City also advises avoiding recreational contact with waterways during and after heavy rainfall because stormwater runoff can carry contaminants from urban areas, parks and surrounding catchments into local waterways.
Current water quality results are published using a traffic light system that classifies monitored sites as Safe, Caution or Closed based on laboratory testing. The classifications provide an indication of water quality at the time samples were collected.
Laboratory analysis can take up to 48 hours to complete, meaning conditions may change before results are published. For that reason, people are also advised to avoid swimming after significant rainfall, even if the latest available results appear favourable.
Other monitored locations across the Redlands include Thompsons Beach and Wilsons Beach at Victoria Point, Beth Boyd Park at Thorneside, Raby Bay Foreshore Park, and several beaches on Minjerribah and the Southern Moreton Bay Islands. Together, these locations form part of the region’s recreational water monitoring program.
Across the bay, Brisbane also monitors water quality at 11 recreational sites along the Brisbane River and Moreton Bay foreshores. The program also tests for enterococci bacteria and issues public health warnings when readings exceed national guideline levels.
Temporary warning signs are installed at affected locations, advising people to avoid activities involving regular contact with the water, including swimming, wading, rowing, jet skiing and fishing where contact with the water is likely.
Both Redland City and Brisbane follow the National Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Waters when determining when warning notices should be installed or removed. The guidelines provide a framework for managing health risks associated with recreational water use.
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Under normal conditions, local waterways are generally considered safe for recreation. However, health authorities recommend waiting up to three days after significant rainfall before swimming and avoiding areas near stormwater outlets, where contamination levels may be higher.
Before swimming at Wellington Point Reserve, checking the latest water quality advice can help visitors make informed decisions, particularly following heavy rainfall.
Featured image credit: Google Maps/Oscar Zahran
Published 7-July-2026
