Jawbone Marine Sanctuary

In November of 2019 Jawbone faced its biggest threat in many decades. There was a major oil-based leak into a drain which flows into the Paisley-Challis wetlands. A quick thinking neighbor alerted the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to the fact that the creek within the wetlands had turned black.

Although significant quantities of the pollutant passed into the sanctuary, a series of booms were placed by the EPA which prevented a major disaster. Pumps have been occupied full time pumping oil affected water from the wetlands since the discovery.

An article in the Age newspaper identifies construction materials giant Boral as a potential source of the spill. A Boral asphalt plant is located nearby in Champion Rd.

Major damage to the marine sanctuary was avoided by the prompt action of the EPA. However there was a thin layer of oily residue along approximately 400 meters of the most secluded areas of the sanctuary. Bird life was also affected.