Cook Shire Council advises that the Cooktown Splash Park is closed until Wednesday 5 March due to significant system blockages caused by a significant quantity of small, styrofoam-coloured beads.
A significant quantity of small, candy-coloured styrofoam beads and slime were discovered throughout the Splash Park, entering the facility’s filtration and drainage systems. The material has caused operational disruption and required a full system clean-out and inspection.
Council crews have been working to remove the beads from pumps and filters; however, the volume of material has necessitated a temporary shutdown to ensure the facility can be safely and properly restored.
Why this matters
While these items may appear harmless, the impact has been considerable:
- The beads have blocked mechanical systems, resulting in service disruption and additional maintenance costs.
- The material is not biodegradable and behaves like microplastics in the environment.
- Council officers also later received reports from concerned parents after some children attempted to ingest the small, brightly coloured beads, highlighting a potential choking hazard.
Introducing foreign materials into the Splash Park system has real safety, environmental and financial consequences.
Environmental risk
The Splash Park is located close to the mouth of the Endeavour River, which flows directly into the Great Barrier Reef.
Lightweight styrofoam beads can easily be transported by wind and stormwater. If they enter local waterways, they can:
- Break down into microplastics
- Be ingested by fish, birds and marine life
- Contribute to long-term contamination of sensitive reef and river ecosystems
Preventing these materials from entering the system is critical to protecting our waterways and the globally significant natural environment that surrounds Cooktown.
A shared responsibility
The Splash Park is a free, family-friendly community facility enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. Council reminds all users that materials such as beads, confetti-style products, slime and other small plastic items are not suitable for use at the facility and should not be introduced into the water systems.
All users are encouraged to clean up thoroughly after gatherings and dispose of waste responsibly.
When inappropriate materials are left behind, it impacts the broader community — from children using the facility, to ratepayers who fund repairs, to the marine life that depends on clean waterways.
Council thanks the community for its understanding while repairs are undertaken and looks forward to reopening the Splash Park on 5 March.
Pictured above: some of the candy-coloured styrofoam beads removed from the Splash Park filtration system during clean-out works.
Pictured above: The beads and a gel-like residue were found lodged in Splash Park drainage grates, contributing to system blockages and temporary closure.