Did you know that the Ross Jones Memorial Pool at Coogee Beach closed briefly but has since reopened, following a swift clean-up operation to remove fly larvae found in the water?
The popular beach pool was temporarily closed over the weekend after reports of unwelcome visitors, prompting urgent maintenance measures by Council workers.
“Thanks to the hard work of our beach services team, a new southerly swell and a drop in humidity — we had Ross Jones Memorial Pool at Coogee Beach back in swimming shape on Saturday,” council officials announced.
The closure came after fly larvae were detected in the pool on Friday, 23 February 2024, leading to immediate action to clean and empty the pool to ensure the safety of swimmers.
“We’re on site this arvo to evict some sea maggots from the pool and get it back up and running again as soon as possible,” the Council announced.
“These smallish flies are pretty common in muggy weather. They lay their eggs in decaying seaweed—gross!”
Entomologist and University of Sydney lecturer Tom White explained that the larvae, likely kelp flies or seaweed flies, thrive in warm and humid conditions, often laying their eggs on seaweed.
Despite the unsettling discovery, Dr White reassured the public that the larvae posed no threat to swimmers and attributed their presence to environmental factors.
With the pool now reopened, locals and visitors can enjoy a refreshing swim at the Ross Jones Memorial Pool, with Council officials pledging continued monitoring to prevent future outbreaks.
Published 27-February-2024
