Two beaches closed due to mysterious black balls in Sydney, Australia – Diario La Página –

Dylan Parker, mayor of the Randwick district (in eastern Sydney), indicated that Gordons Bay and Coogee beaches will remain closed until further notice.

“The council works closely with the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority (jurisdiction whose capital is Sydney) to develop a cleaning methodology and a safe waste disposal process,” notes Parker on his Facebook profile.

The “mysterious black ball-shaped waste”, as initially described by local authorities, was discovered on Tuesday afternoon in Coogee, while today it was found on the other beach.

Possible oil spill
A Port Authority boat tries to collect the sticky black balls before they reach the sand, while cleaning crews on the ground remove the debris with shovels and gloves.

Randwick council, meanwhile, is trying to determine the quantity and origin of the material washed up by the tide and suspects a possible oil spill.

“At this stage it is unknown what material it is, however, it may be tar balls that form when oil comes into contact with waste and water, normally as a result of oil spills or leaks,” initially indicated the mayor of Randwick, where the popular Bondi beach is also located, currently unaffected.

“Preliminary test results commissioned by Randwick Council show that the material is a hydrocarbon-based contaminant which is consistent with the composition of tar balls,” the council confirmed shortly afterwards on social media.

Danger to marine animals
For its part, the environmental organization Australian Maritime Conservation Society warned that marine animals, such as turtles or humpback whales, can be affected by this waste if they ingest it.

“Tar balls can persist for long periods in the marine environment, and even small amounts can disrupt entire food chains, affecting everything from plankton to the largest predators,” the organization noted from its Facebook profile.