Sydneysiders planning to have some fun in the sun have been cleared to return to the city’s beaches. after thousands of strange black balls were seen washing ashore.
After carrying out preliminary tests on the balls, scientists at the University of New South Wales found that they were non-toxic and instead contained bituminous materials and some biological matter such as fatty acids.
But the good news has been dampened somewhat by the Bureau of Meteorology’s forecast which predicts gray clouds will continue over the port city, with a 70 per cent chance of rain on Saturday, before starting to clear on Sunday.
It comes as seven Sydney beaches were closed to the public due to black tar balls appearing on the sands earlier this week.
Despite the large recall of thousands of balls, NSW Maritime chief executive Mark Hutchings urged the community to remain alert if they head to the beach this weekend.
“Based on advice from the EPA, we can now confirm that the balls are composed of fatty acids, chemicals similar to those found in cleaning products and cosmetics, mixed with some fuel oil,” Mr Hutchings said.
‘They are not harmful when on the ground, but should not be touched or picked up.
‘We hope to see thousands of people heading to our beaches this weekend as the rain begins to clear.
Sydney beachgoers will be relieved to be back in the water after beaches were declared safe to reopen.
‘If you see these balls, report it to a lifeguard. If you or your family accidentally touch one, wash your hands with soap and water or baby oil.
NSW EPA chief executive Stephen Beaman said investigations were continuing to determine where the balls originated from.
‘Until we finalize all our test results, we will not be able to clearly indicate where they come from or any environmental impact; It is still a mystery and it may take a few more days to determine the origin.
“We remind anyone who finds these balls, especially in new unidentified locations, to report it to the Environment Hotline on 131 555.”
Beaman said people should check with their local council to determine whether beaches are open or not.
2,000 “unusual” spheres were discovered along Coogee Beach for the first time on Tuesday, prompting Randwick Council to immediately close the beach while testing was carried out.
Tests by scientists at the University of New South Wales revealed that the tar balls were not highly toxic to humans.
Gordons Bay, Clovelly Beach and Maroubra Beach have since been closed to the public after tar balls also washed ashore.
Bondi, Tamarama and Brontë beaches were also closed “out of an abundance of caution”, Waverley council said.
With fewer than 150 balls still on some beaches, Hutchings said a coordinated multi-agency approach would continue to investigate the strange items.
“We’ve had crews on the ground, boats in the water and drones in the sky to clean most of the balls from our beaches,” he said.
“We have found no further evidence of the substance, so it appears to be an isolated incident.
“We will continue to monitor the situation but at this time NSW Maritime is downgrading the risk and recommending to councils that beaches can be open.”
City councils have the final authority on whether or not to reopen the beaches.
UNSW chemist Alex Donald said the findings confirmed the tar balls originated from eroded oil.
Seven Sydney beaches were closed as the clean-up operation continued.
“It is still unclear whether they were due to a natural leak or a crude oil spill,” he said.
“Further chemical analysis is needed to identify the source.”
The researchers also subjected the balls to ultraviolet radiation.
The specks on the balls are fluorescent, indicating organic compounds.
The tar balls “probably came from petroleum-based sources.”
“Whether caused by human activity or natural processes, solving the mystery of these sticky invaders requires continued scientific research.”
“The source could be related to oil spills, petrochemical processes or environmental contamination with hydrocarbons,” Professor Donald said.
The fluorescence indicates that the seaweed is adhering.
Similar balls appear off the coast of California due to oil seeping from the seabed. Golden Beach in Queensland and Ninety Mile Beach in Gippsland have experienced similar stains, following oil spills or ship discharges.
Professor Donald said finding out whether the tar balls came from a spill or from the seabed was important in shaping the right environmental response.
Cleanup efforts began Wednesday to safely remove and dispose of debris from popular beaches.
An industrial spill could lead to legal action and requires immediate cleanup.
“Toxic compounds from tar balls can leach into the water, posing long-term threats to marine biodiversity,” he said.
“The appearance of tar balls on beaches like Coogee not only damages Australia’s pristine coastal reputation but also threatens the health of ecosystems that support industries such as fishing and tourism.”
The six UNSW scientists will continue to analyze the balls and Randwick Council will provide them with samples.
Randwick mayor Dylan Parker said the council would continue to remove the material from all beaches.
‘Community safety is our first priority. That is why the City Council has taken the precaution of closing these beaches while we collect and safely dispose of this material.
“We still do not know what has happened to cause the debris to reach our beaches, but we will continue to work with the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of the public and clean our beaches.”
Preliminary results showed that the material in the “unusual” spheres was “a hydrocarbon-based contaminant that is consistent with the composition of tar balls.”
Cleanup efforts began Wednesday to safely remove and dispose of debris from popular beaches.
The mayor said council staff had been working with the NSW Environmental Protection Agency, Port Authority and NSW Transport to assist in the clean-up response.
The cleanup process is expected to continue through Thursday, Mayor Parker warned.
“Our community is rightly very protective of our natural environment and this has been a very worrying incident,” he said.
“We have engaged an expert occupational hygienist and a specialist waste removal contractor who are currently systematically removing debris from beaches in accordance with an agreed safe work method statement developed with the NSW EPA.”
He thanked the public for staying off the beach as testing and cleanup efforts continue.