Thousands of mysterious black balls strewn across two beaches have been identified as ‘tar balls’.
Randwick Council explained the the strange find, which appeared on Coogee and Gordons Bay beaches in Sydney’s on Tuesday and Wednesday, are a ‘hydrocarbon based pollutant’ – and likely came from a freight ship.
Both beaches were immediately shut down following the discovery and will remain off limits amid ongoing cleanup efforts.
Council staff are being assisted by the NSW Environmental Protection Authority, Ports Authority and Transport for NSW.
‘Our community is rightfully very protective of our natural environment and this has been a very concerning incident,’ mayor Dylan Parker said.
‘Our priority as a local council is to keep people safe and protect as far as possible our coastal and marine environment.
‘We have engaged an expert occupational hygienist and a specialist waste removal contractor who are currently systematically removing the debris from the beaches in accordance with an agreed safe work method statement developed with the NSW EPA.
‘This process will likely continue tomorrow.’
Tar balls are formed when oil comes into contact with debris and water.
They are typically seen following oil spill or seepage incidents.
While the balls usually don’t pose a significant risk to beachgoers, their sticky texture and harmful properties can spell disaster for local marine life.
Cr Parker added that the council will work with all relevant authorities to find determine the scale and cause of the pollution.
‘I am grateful to the community for their patience and for remaining off the beach,’ he said.
‘I also wish to thank the Council staff, contractors and various NSW Government agency staff who have been working around the clock to respond to this issue.’
Many locals were glad to see the balls identified and hoped the beaches reopen soon as the weather warns up
‘Very unfortunate! Hope the clean up is a success,’ one wrote.
Another added: ‘I experienced tar balls in Thailand many years ago. I threw away my swimming suit and flip flops. It can’t be washed. Can’t imagine how the sea animals will be. Look at what our humanity has done.’