On Tuesday January 14 nine beaches in our area were closed after white/grey, ball-shaped debris was found washed up along the shore.
Council was alerted to the debris and stated it is working closely with the state agency to collect samples for testing.
'So far, most samples identified are marble-sized with a few larger in size.' council said
'The Council is organising the safe removal of the matter and is inspecting other beaches.'
Beachgoers were advised to avoid Manly, Dee Why, Long Reef, Queenscliff, Freshwater, North and South Curl Curl, North Steyne and North Narrabeen beaches until further notice and keep away from the material while the clean-up and investigations continue.
Most of the mysterious greyish balls that appeared on Sydney's Northern Beaches were the size and shape of a marble. (Supplied: Northern Beaches Council)
On Wednesday morning council advised it had reopened all beaches apart from South Curl Curl and Dee Why following the clean-up of marble-sized ball-shaped debris.
South Curl Curl and Dee Why were still being assessed, and the clean-up is continuing at these locations until 2pm that afternoon, when the council stated it had reopened South Curl Curl but Dee Why beach remained closed while the clean-up there continued.
Mayor Sue Heins said the clean-up was organised swiftly to allow the beaches to be cleared of the debris and reopened as quickly as possible.
“I congratulate the crews for a fast clean up so we could get beachgoers back in the water today.
“We will continue to monitor the beaches condition, especially following the high tide this morning.”
A spokesperson for Sydney Water stated there had been no issue with the operation of its nearby Warriewood and North Head Water Resource Recovery plants.
"Sydney Water is continuing to work with the EPA to investigate the cause of the grease balls," the spokesperson said.
The material washing up are similar to the human waste found on beaches in the Eastern Suburbs last year. While the balls found on Tuesday are still subject to testing, the EPA has stated they have a similar appearance to those found in the eastern suburbs, which consisted of fatty acids and petroleum hydrocarbons.
The NSW EPA stated it first received a report of debris balls on Dee Why Beach.
''Testing conducted on the Eastern suburbs’ balls could not pinpoint a source or identify what caused them to form, as there was no source sample available for comparison.
Results of testing on balls that washed up on Bombo Beach, Kiama, in 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 in December.'' the EPA stated
The NSW Greens stated on Tuesday repeated occasions where wastewater is causing pollution and with no clear source must be addressed by the Environment Protection Authority and Sydney Water.
Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson said “The repeated discharge of sewage material onto Sydney Beaches in recent months is a sign that there is a systemic failure in Sydney’s waste water management.
We know that Sydney loses significant amounts of water through cracked and damaged pipes, it’s time for Sydney Water to tell the public how much sewage is leaking into our environment. If they don’t know, why don’t they don’t know, because they should know.
“Sydney Water has admitted that the human waste on beaches in Sydney’s east last year may have absorbed wastewater discharges indicating that our current treatment systems are not fit for purpose and the question remains, how much waste products are discharged by Sydney Water as part of their ‘normal operations’?”
“We need to have a serious conversation about the accountability of utilities like Sydney Water, and we must do better when it comes to taking responsibility for subjects like where our crap goes. The environment cannot afford for us to just shrug and accept human waste turning up on beaches that are in regular use,”
“If the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) needs to consider what tools they will use to prevent Sydney Water from releasing waste products as part of their normal operations. If that means that Sydney Water’s licence must be varied, or be put on a pollution reduction program - then that’s what needs to happen,”
“In times of drought, we are rightly worried that clean water is leaking into the ground. We need to be just as concerned about the discharges of human waste and toxic chemicals due to inadequate systems and infrastructure. If Sydney Water needs more resources and better tools to get the job done then the Government must stump up,” Ms Higginson said.
Ms Higginson's comments have been echoed by Pittwater residents witnessing waters stinking of sewerage running down Cahill creek into Pittwater, potentially impacting Bayview Baths, and the die off of trees on Scotland Island, which is still waiting on, decades after this was first discussed, to have the basic water connections the rest of Sydney takes for granted.
Visit December 2024 reports:
- Bayview Pollution runoff persists: Resident states raw sewerage is being washed into the estuary
- Scotland Island Dieback Accelerating: IPART Review of increases In Sydney Water's Pricing Proposals An Opportunity to ask: 'what happened to the 'Priority Sewerage Scheme' for our Island? - Submissions Close December 9
- Bayview Public Wharf Gone; Bayview Public Baths still not netted - Salt Pan Public Wharf Going
On Sunday January 12 a burst watermain above Bilgola at the Newport end, smelling faintly of sewerage, poured vast amounts of water down the hill and right along the southern end of the surf club and beach frontage for around an hour, despite council reporting it as soon as it commenced, swamping Norfolk pine roots, cutting a broad swathe through the sand and a plume of brown into the sea.
Residents state this recurs around once a year, with huge amounts of water pouring down the Bilgola bends escarpment and into the ocean, eroding the banks of the bends and carrying massive amounts of debris and with it.
Anyone who notices this kind of white-grey balls debris on other beaches is encouraged to contact the council on 1300 434 434.
