This creature was not a monster from the depths, but rather an incredibly scruffy pelican that resided in Coranderrk Pool on Parkes Way.

For months the grease covered pelican had been a concern for motorists who called the Department of the Capital Territory "night and day".

Eventually an anonymous department head told The Canberra Times the pelican just wanted to be left alone.

"It loves sitting in the oil and slush", he said.

"It is having a lovely time and apparently eats the dubious morsels in the water there".

Coranderrk Pool was designed to collect stormwater, and trap waste that ran off from the city.

When levels of oil and sludge were high, the department would burn off the pool to get rid of the waste

This was a concern for those wishing to protect the pelican.

According to the Department of the Capital Territory, numerous rangers from the department had attempted to rescue the bird, only for the mysterious creature to fly away at every attempt.

The public relations officer of the department used ACT pride to wash his hands of the bird.

"It is not an ACT pelican obviously. Pelicans here don't like dirty water. This one revels in getting under this dirty sludge and apparently is eating it."

"It's the scruffiest pelican our officers have ever seen - but possibly the happiest."

See: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/12381247