The water at a famous Melbourne beach has been turned into smelly black sludge due to nearby dredging works.

St Kilda beach and the marina are almost unrecognisable today as the popular coastline undergoes a week-long operation to deepen the St Kilda Marina Entrance Channel.

Authorities have warned dredging can result in discoloured water and sand with high microbial levels.

Residents and visitors have been urged to avoid contact with the water until the dredging works are complete.

The beach at St Kilda is also emitting an odour due a broken sewage pipe on Acland Street.

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) in Victoria said the discolouring impact of dredging was "short-lived" and only took place while sand was being deposited.

"The deposited sand on the beach will a

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