Melbourne beaches contaminated with vegetable oil as EPA investigates source

Water quality at Elwood and St Kilda upgraded from poor to fair on Sunday after swimmers previously reported being covered in oily substance

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Beachgoers have been advised to avoid swimming at some Melbourne beaches, despite the sunny weather, after the Environment Protection Authority was alerted to an oil spill.

Swimmers and paddleboarders reported emerging from the water covered in an oily substance at Elwood beach on Thursday, with other locals reporting dead fish and large quantities of oil on the surface of the local canal, Elster Creek, which runs into the bay nearby.

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