Maroubra, Clovelly, Gordons Bay, and Coogee beaches closed over black tar balls

Two more Sydney beaches have been closed to the public after black tar balls washed up along the shore.

The ‘unusual’ spheres were first discovered along Coogee Beach on Tuesday, prompting Randwick City Council to immediately shut the beach while testing was conducted.

Since then, Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte, Gordons Bay, Clovelly Beach and Maroubra Beach have been closed to the public.

All seven swim spots will be closed until further notice.

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker, said Council would continue to remove the material across all beaches throughout Thursday. 

‘The safety of the community is our first priority. That’s why Council has taken the precaution to close these beaches while we undertake the safe collection and disposal of this material.

‘We don’t yet know what has happened to produce the debris washing up on our beaches, but we will continue to work with relevant authorities to ensure the safety of the public and clean up our beaches.’

Preliminary results showed the material of the ‘unusual’ spheres were ‘hydrocarbon based pollutant which is consistent with the makeup of tar balls’.

Tar balls that washed up on Coogee Beach (pictured) have led to its closure until further notice

Clean-up efforts were launched on Wednesday to remove and safely dispose the debris from the popular beaches. 

Mr Parker said council staff have been working closely with the NSW Environment Protection Agency, Ports Authority and Transport for NSW to assist in the clean-up response.

Though it is not yet known where the tar balls originated from, the council will continue to work with all relevant authorities as required.

‘Our community is rightfully very protective of our natural environment and this has been a very concerning incident,’ the mayor said.

‘We have engaged an expert occupational hygienist and a specialist waste removal contractor who are currently systematically removing the debris from the beaches in accordance with an agreed safe work method statement developed with the NSW EPA.’

He thanked the NSW public for remaining off the beach while the tests and clean-up efforts continue.