Back in October, some of Sydney’s most popular beaches (including Bondi and Coogee) were closed to the public when mysterious balls of…something started washing up on the shore. The small, marble-sized balls were initially labelled “tar balls”, but their exact composition was actually a mixture of cooking oil, human faeces and other chemicals (including illicit drugs). Yesterday, beaches in Sydney’s north were struck with the plague of tiny balls, with nine beaches between Manly and Narrabeen currently closed to protect public safety.
Yesterday (Tuesday, January 14), debris similar to the balls found on Sydney’s eastern beaches last year was discovered on the dreamy shores of Dee Why, with the Northern Beaches Council quickly closing the beach to minimise human contact. As the day went on, more marble-sized balls were found on the shores of an additional eight beaches: North Narrabeen, Manly, Queenscliff, Long Reef, Freshwater, North and South Curl Curl and North Steyne.
What are the tar balls washing up on Sydney beaches?
When the balls first began washing up on the shore late last year, it was assumed that they were standard-issue tar balls, which form when oil (generally from oil spills) meets tiny bits of debris on the surface of the water. The composition of the current batch of mystery balls is yet to be determined, but it’s likely that they could be pretty nasty – with the last batch found to contain PFAS chemicals, steroid compounds and pesticides. A sample of the most recent balls have been sent for testing.
Which Sydney beaches are closed because of tar balls?
The Northern Beaches Council have been working overnight to clear the beaches of the potentially toxic balls. The clean-up team managed to clear a proportion of the debris overnight, with all beaches apart from South Curl Curl and Dee Why now open.
As the council works to inspect Sydney’s coastline, more Sydney beaches could be closed, with the source of the balls currently under investigation.
The Northern Beaches Council is encouraging beachgoers to report any beach debris by calling 1300 434 434.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox.