Northern Beaches Council in Sydney has been re-opening its beaches after the debris balls were collected. Photo: Northern Beaches Council
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is expanding its investigation into the origin of debris balls found on NSW beaches after more were found early last week.
EPA Director of Operations, Adam Gilligan says technical experts in pollution and specialist investigators are exploring all possibilities including potential links between the incidents.
“Investigating pollution incidents from unknown sources is incredibly challenging but we will work with other government agencies and examine all potential sources with site visits commencing today,” Gilligan says.
“This will include possible land-based causes such as Sydney Water’s sewerage system, stormwater systems, as well as sea-borne sources such as a cruise ship or other vessels.”
He also says they are investigating whether illegal trade waste discharge into stormwater may be a cause as well.
“We are also undertaking the same chemical analysis of debris balls found in the Northern Beaches as was conducted on debris balls found on other beaches across NSW,” Gilligan says.
“Preliminary results will be provided as soon as they are available.”
BEACHES
Last Monday, the EPA tested ball-shaped debris found on nine beaches in the Northern Beaches Council area: Dee Why, Manly, Long Reef, Queenscliff, Freshwater, North and South Curl Curl, North Steyne and North Narrabeen beaches.
The council closed these beaches for the debris to be removed as it inspected other beaches. Affected beaches are re-opening after the balls are collected.
EPA officers have collected samples for testing.
The EPA says the public should not touch the debris balls if they find any, which have a similar appearance to those that washed up on Eastern suburbs’ beaches in October last year and were found to consist mostly of fatty acids and petroleum hydrocarbons.
Testing conducted on the eastern suburbs’ balls could not pinpoint a source or identify what caused them to form.
Results of testing on balls that washed up on Bombo Beach at Kiama last November found they had a similar composition to the Eastern suburbs’ debris balls.
The EPA is still awaiting the final results of tests on balls that washed up on Silver Beach in Kurnell and at South Coast beaches (Bombo Beach in Kiama, 1080 Beach and Pooles Beach at Mystery Bay) in December.
In October 2024, balls washed up on Bondi, Bronte, Clovelly, Congwong, Frenchmans, Little Bay, Malabar and Tamarama beaches.
Anyone who identifies ball-shaped debris on beaches should contact their local council or call the EPA’s Environment Line on 131 555.
