That was an excellent cover photo of the Byron Sandhills Wetland in last week’s Echo, including the dirty drain opening onto Clarkes Beach. The story accurately describes how sand mining destroyed the natural Sandhills environment in the 1960s.
What the story omits is that the dirty drain onto the beach was also installed at that same time. Before that, no drain to the beach existed.
I have twice in the past two years had the water tested at the drain exit.
Environmental Analysis Laboratory Lismore have advised on both occasions ‘High levels of E. coli bacteria’ and ‘water is unsuitable for swimming’.
Tell that to the kids who love playing in this warm brown water. It is often ponded for weeks at a time.
As part of the complete restoration of the Sandhills this drain should be blocked and prevented from polluting a pristine beach.
It was never part of the original environment.
Council freely accepts all drainage should be directed towards Belongil Creek.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
