Locals baffled as popular creek mysteriously turns bright blue

Authorties are investigating how Toongabbie Creek in Sydney's west turned a striking shade of blue.

·Senior News Reporter

Updated 2 May 2024 at 6:53 pm·2-min read

Bright blue Toongabbie Creek. — Toongabbie Creek, which flows through Western Sydney, has turned a bright shade of blue with locals wondering why. Source: Facebook

Locals have raised concerns after a popular waterway suddenly turned a striking shade of aqua, leading some to believe a "dye" or "chemical spill" could be to blame for the unusual sight.

Residents in Sydney's west first spotted parts of Toongabbie Creek — wedged between Parramatta and Blacktown council areas — turning various shades of teal and bright blue earlier this week with an investigation reportedly underway to find the cause.

Photos and videos shared online by locals show the extraordinary difference in colour. However, the sudden change of hue is cause for concern according to residents who have described it as "awful," particularly since the creek is home to various animals.

"It's almost like a dye of some sort," speculated one person on Facebook. Others feared a "chemical spill" might be to blame.

Murray Sayle from Local Bushcare said normally you can see the bottom, but the creek was suddenly aqua blue. It's understood only parts of the creek have changed colours, most notably where it's joined by two others at Old Toongabbie, a suburb between Parramatta and Blacktown.

"There's something causing it and we'd like to know what and who has caused that problem," local John Hibbard told 9News on Thursday.

Investigations underway to solve bright blue phenomenon

Councillor Georgina Valjak from the City of Parramatta said investigations "tracked the source of pollution to a location in the Blacktown LGA" — the neighbouring area. However its cause is still unknown.

"Our Council has notified Blacktown City Council which is actively investigating the matter with the assistance of the EPA," she said. "City of Parramatta Council takes the health of our waterways seriously and we will continue to keep residents updated."

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) confirmed it was alerted to the discolouration of Toongabbie Creek by the community.

"Our officers inspected onsite yesterday (Thursday) and we are working with Blacktown City Council to investigate the source of the incident," a spokesperson said. "We understand Council has sent water samples for analysis and the results are a few days away."

Yahoo News Australia has also contacted Blacktown City Council for comment.

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Investigations underway to solve bright blue phenomenon

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