Cement works swim spot re-opens

Auckland Council restrictions on Warkworth’s popular swimming hole at the cement works, on Wilson Road, were lifted on December 4. ‘Public health warning’ signs were erected at the spot on November 9 following high E. coli levels. Council food safety and health enforcement team leader Alan Ahmu says that since then, multiple tests have been run that confirm the E. coli levels are not harmful for swimmers. He says the rusty red colour of the water that led to the first test is due to an algal bloom that poses no threat to people’s health.