Months after mysterious black spheres forced the closure of some of Sydney’s most iconic beaches, new small gray and white spheres have begun washing ashore, prompting authorities to close nine beaches as investigations into their origin continue.
In October, eight beaches, including the renowned Bondi Beach, were closed for several days after thousands of black spheres appeared on the coastline. The subsequent cleanup revealed the spheres were likely caused by a sewage spill, raising significant concerns about environmental safety.
Sue Haynes, the mayor of Northern Beaches, expressed alarm at the new findings, stating, “We don’t yet know what these are, which makes it all the more concerning. Something is clearly leaking or falling from somewhere… It’s floating out there and washing up along our shores.”
The Northern Beaches Council confirmed via Facebook on Tuesday that it had been alerted to the issue by the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (EPA). Authorities are now collecting samples for analysis and inspecting other beaches in the area for similar occurrences.
Residents who come across the spheres are urged to report them to authorities immediately.
An analysis of the black spheres from October initially identified them as “tar balls.” However, later testing revealed a complex composition, including cooking oil, soap, blood pressure medication, pesticides, hair, methamphetamine, and veterinary drugs. Scientists noted that these resembled fatbergs, which are masses of grease, oil, and waste commonly found in sewer systems.
Despite this, Sydney Water reported no known issues with the city’s sewage systems, leaving officials uncertain about the source of the material. The mystery has raised ongoing concerns about the safety of Sydney’s beaches and the potential environmental risks associated with the unexplained debris.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation and prioritize public safety as investigations progress.
