Brisbane City Council Adds Extra Brown Dye To River To Get It Looking Good For Test Match

ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

Brisbane City Council has confirmed it is increasing the amount of brown dye released into the Brisbane River ahead of the Second Test, which begins on Thursday as a "pink ball" day night fixture. The boost is intended to ensure the Brown Snake reaches its darkest and most photogenic tone for visiting cricket fans and international broadcasters.

Council officials say the river is routinely dyed throughout the year to maintain its familiar muddy look. Without this program, the waterway would revert to its natural state, which scientists describe as a bright turquoise corridor teeming with marine life, complete with white sandy shallows that resemble a tropical inlet in the Whitsundays rather than the sludge channel commonly associated with the city.

A spokesperson for the council said the enhanced dose was standard procedure before major sporting events.

"We want the river looking properly brown, not that horrible aqua colour it goes without treatment," the spokesperson said.

Tourism operators say that visitors who travel to Brisbane for the Test often expect the iconic murk they have seen for decades in aerial shots of the Gabba precinct. Operators report receiving complaints whenever the water appears too clear or when fish and stingrays become visible near the surface.

"It throws people off when the river looks alive," a local cruise operator said.

To achieve the desired tone, the council will release the dye between the Indooroopilly Bridge and South Bank, while dredging machines have been assigned to stir up sediment along the Kangaroo Point cliffs to help distribute the colour.

Local business groups say the process is now as much a part of pre-Test week preparation as changing the oil in the deep fryers or making sure there's enough flavoured condoms in hotel vending machines across the city.

Council officials expect the river to gradually return to its usual artificially maintained brown after the match concludes.

More to come.