Sydney’s Coogee Beach closed after contamination from suspected ‘tar balls’
Coogee Beach, located in Sydney’s east, remains closed following lifeguards finding suspected ‘tar balls’ washed up on the sand yesterday.
Hundreds of the black, ball-shaped debris were found along the length of the beach on Tuesday and Wednesday morning.
Randwick City Council said in a statement today “Council is investigating the origin and composition of the material, which has the appearance of dark spheres.”
Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker told ABC News Breakfast early indications point to an oil spill out at sea and advised that while he wasn't aware of recent oil spills nearby "if it is made of oil, it can be carcinogenic. We're strongly advising people just not to touch them."
Mayor Parker said council lifeguards had spotted the balls washing by Wedding Cake Island, just off the coastline and added “Council lifeguards on jet skis have gone out and we have identified some of these balls washing up on Wedding Cake island.”
NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said Coogee was the only beach affected and noted "It's an unusual occurrence … the other beaches are fine but we hope to get to the bottom of what is a pretty unusual situation as quickly as possible.”
Randwick Council is liaising with the NSW Environment Protection Agency, Beach Watch NSW and other relevant bodies to determine the source of the contamination and when it might be safe to open the beach again.
On Tuesday afternoon, Gordons Bay north of Coogee was closed by Council after the debris was found on the beach.
The NSW Port Authority said no oil spills had been self-reported by vessels.
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