Manly, Dee Why seashores are closed after gray balls wash up
A string of Sydney beaches have been shut down after marble-sized grey balls washed up on the sand – just months after similar balls closed some of the city’s most popular beaches.
Manly, Dee Why, Long Reef, Queenscliff, Freshwater, North and South Curl Curl, North Steyne and North Narrabeen beaches in the city’s north were closed on Tuesday.
‘Council was alerted to the debris via the EPA and is working closely with the state agency to collect samples for testing,’ Northern Beaches Council said.
‘So far, most samples identified are marble-sized with a few larger in size.
‘The Council is organising the safe removal of the matter and is inspecting other beaches.’
It comes after seven iconic beaches including Bondi, Coogee and Maroubra in the city’s east were closed in October when dozens of black balls washed up.
The incident sparked a massive clean-up by Randwick Council, which initially thought the balls were toxic ‘tar balls’ created by an oil spill or ship leakage.
But scientists later revealed that their origins were far more disgusting.
A string of Sydney beaches have been shut down after marble-sized grey balls (pictured) washed up on the sand – just months after similar balls closed beaches in the eastern suburbs
Manly, Dee Why, Long Reef, Queenscliff, Freshwater, North and South Curl Curl, North Steyne and North Narrabeen beaches in the city’s north were closed on Tuesday
It comes after seven iconic beaches including Bondi, Coogee and Maroubra in the city’s east were closed in October when dozens of black balls washed up
Researchers from the University of New South Wales said that the balls were actually a foul mixture of raw sewage, cooking fat, soap scum, and drugs.
This suggested that the balls were chunks of a ‘fatberg’ typically found in city sewers.
Questions around the origin of the debris remained – researchers were unsure if they came from local sewerage systems, a boat, or stormwater.
However, they were certain the balls all came from the same place, as they were similar in composition.
A small number of the balls also washed up at Silver Beach in the city’s south in December.
Anyone who notices the debris on other beaches in the city’s north is encouraged to contact Northern Beaches Council on 1300 434 434.
