A Te Anau lakefront stormwater drain, that prompted public concern after a Public Health Warning sign was discovered on it on 15th July, has now tested safe according to a Southland District Council (SDC) report.

The signs discovery prompted an investigation by SDC staff, who found it had been erected after a plumbing error five years earlier, which had allowed sewage to be discharged from the stormwater drain.

The error had been corrected but the sign had subsquently been forgotten about and never removed.

A report, completed on 27th July, recorded test results for Escherichia Coli (E Coli) of less than 20 MPN/100ml.

The covering document said the results were exceptional as SDC had a stormwater limit of less than 1000MPN/100ml.

The Southland App understands the health warning sign will now finally be removed on 2 August.