Huon Valley residents and visitors can keep enjoying a dip in the river or at the beach with confidence, with new results confirming the region’s popular swimming spots are consistently safe for swimming.
Council’s Recreational Water Quality Report 2025-26 shows the Huon Valley natural swimming areas have again returned consistently compliant results – continuing a clean run stretching back six years.
Huon Valley Mayor Sally Doyle said the results were a great reflection of the region’s natural environment.
“Whether it’s the Huon River, the D’Entrecasteaux Channel or our beautiful coastal beaches, our community places huge value on being able to get out and swim,” Mayor Doyle said.
“These results show that our waterways remain clean and safe for recreation, season after season, and that’s something the whole Huon Valley can be proud of.”
Given the strength and consistency of results over the past six years, Council will write to the Director of Public Health proposing a reduced sampling program from the 2026-27 season, while retaining monitoring at every current site and stepping up sampling wherever a non-compliant result occurs. This will save rate payers money while continuing to ensure we identify any issues that may arise.
Residents are reminded that, as always, it’s best to avoid swimming for up to three days after significant rainfall, when water quality can temporarily drop due to runoff.
This testing relates specifically to recreational water quality – that is, safety for swimming and similar activities – and does not relate to drinking water quality or water quality for fishing purposes.
The full Recreational Water Quality Report 2025-26 is available at: Recreational Water Quality Report 2025-26 – Background & Discussion