It is back to business as usual along the Nelson Bay foreshore with the reopening of the beaches and marina to water users following a week-long closure due to a sewage leak.
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Port Stephens Council reopened beaches along Victoria Parade from Nelson Bay Foreshore Reserve where Splash Waterpark is located to Fly Point on Friday, January 15 but kept the d'Albora Marina foreshore closed over the weekend.
The marina foreshore, in front of the popular Nelson Bay children's playground, was reopened on Monday after testing showed the water quality had normalised.
"Port Stephens Council received water quality test results back that show the water quality has returned to normal levels," the council stated on Monday morning. "We will continue to monitor water quality to ensure conditions remain safe."
The leak occurred when a sewer main was damaged during excavation works in the Nelson Bay marina car park in Teramby Road on Monday, January 11.
Up to 225 kilolitres of sewage was estimated to have leaked from the main into the Nelson Bay harbour, which Hunter Water contained and repaired.
Imagine Cruises owner Frank Future told the Examiner immediately following the leak that he had never experienced such a stench in more than 25 years operating in Nelson Bay.
The leak came at an unfortunate time as sunny skies appeared after weeks of dreary weather.
The Dolphin Watch Cafe, which overlooks the marina, reported a huge decrease in customers from the incident.
Cafe manager Eser Dinkciler said the business relied on foot traffic from the nearby beaches and waterpark, which had all been closed this week.
"I estimate it's had a 90 per cent per cent affect on the business," Mr Dinkciler said.
"The week before there was too much rain. On Sunday the weather was perfect, it was very busy. Then it happened on Monday.
"This time is usually when I make money.
"But we've been closing early because no one is swimming and the water park is closed."
He said it was another hard blow after getting through the losses from COVID-19.
"There's normally plenty of Chinese and Korean people coming from Sydney for whale watch and dolphin watch, but not this year," he said.
Mr Dinkciler said he expected to be busy on Monday with the beaches reopening, but that the drop in takings had been tough.
"Five days everybody lost business that we can't bring back," he said.
Port Stephens Council reopened beaches last Friday after consulting with the NSW EPA, Hunter Water and Beach Watch.
Splash Waterpark reopened on Saturday.