Melbourne beaches contaminated with vegetable oil as EPA investigates source

Some paddleboarders and a few swimmers were still entering the water on Sunday morning at the popular St Kilda and Elwood beaches, despite the signs.Photograph: Stephanie Convery/The Guardian

Tests on Saturday morning revealed the substance to be vegetable oil – mostly palm oil – commonly used for cooking. It “presents no hazard to human health but is still unpleasant for beachgoers and can harm some wildlife”, the EPA said. Authorities initially feared the spill could harm the little penguin colony at St Kilda breakwater, calling in Zoos Victoria to assist. Guardian Australia understands the welfare of the colony has been secured.

The dead fish in the local canal and near the beaches have not been definitively linked to the spill but investigations are ongoing.Our Australian morning briefing email breaks down the key national and international stories of the day and why they matterNewsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our

Melbournians getting cooked…

Thank you for providing this article. We can try and mass produce and materialise kenaf plants to soak up oils, not just vegetable oils, and maybe in the future grow these plants near areas prone to oils spills.

I'm sure the oil is cleaner than the other contaminants.

Bloody vegans destroying the planet

just guessing - but i'd say 'vegetables'

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