Portions of the Brisbane River will reportedly be quarantined later this week after testing has revealed high levels of coal tar present in the West End section of the river.
According to a leaked Brisbane City Council report, a former processing plant is responsible for the leak with significant groundwater and soil contamination stretching as far as 40 meters from shore.
The council says walking along the riverside should still be relatively safe, however urges people not to come in contact with the water until the quarantine is lifted.