Australian waterway turns Barbie-pink

The Boondall Wetlands in Brisbane has gone from clear water to something that resembles a strawberry milkshake

People living near Boondall Wetlands in Australia got a surprise when they found the normally crystal-clear water had turned bright pink.

The waterway is found in Brisbane in the state of the Queensland, and is home to lots of local wildlife.

At first people were concerned the colour change was down to water pollution from a nearby dump - but scientists have said the Barbie-like colouring could actually be natural.

Environmental scientist Michele Burford from the Australian Rivers Institute suggested it could be caused by an algal bloom, since there is a type of algae that is pink.

She said the algae could have been washed in by the tide or risen from below the surface, but that the pink colour would likely only last a few days.

Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has told local residents not to panic, but instead to make the most of the unusual sight while it lasts.

He told reporters: "It's quite rare, it's a great opportunity to get out and check out the wetlands in our local area because you might not see this in the future for a while."

But although the water might look appealing, local residents have been warned not to swim in the water.

Ms Burford explained that the water can be toxic, causing a rash so "it's not a good idea to go wading around in it".

She added: "If you do come into contact with it, wash it off as soon as you can so you minimise the effect and definitely do not let animals into it or drink from it."

Why has the pink algae appeared now?

The pink coloured bloom seems to have come about due to a change in weather conditions in the area.

Brisbane City Council said in a statement: "Warmer weather and low rainfall can lead to less water flow and higher salt levels, causing the algae and bacteria in the water to turn pink."

Ms Burford added: "Sometimes, if the weather conditions are right and it's really calm, the algae can sort of swim up to the surface and then get blown in if there's a little bit of breeze that can just push it into the shore."

The famous Hutt Lagoon in Western Australia is also pink due to algae

Boondall Wetlands are an area "international importance" as migratory birds travel there from as far as Siberia, China, Japan, Mongolia and Alaska.

The council has said that although the pink pigment is occurring naturally they will still conduct a site visit to assess the health of the waterway.

This isn't the first time pink water like this has been seen in the country, with salt lakes at Lake Bumbunga in South Australia and at Esperance in Western Australia famous for their pink colour.