Australia: Two Beaches Closed Due to Suspicious Black Balls

Coogee Beach in Sydney was closed on Tuesday after the discovery of hundreds of mysterious black balls, and the nearby Gordon’s Bay was closed shortly after.

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This comes amid efforts by experts to identify the source of these balls, which are potentially tar balls resulting from oil spills.

On Wednesday morning, a jet ski from Randwick Council spotted what is believed to be an oil slick off the coast. Samples of the mysterious substance have been sent for testing, with warnings issued to the public not to touch or approach them.

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State Environment Minister Penny Sharpe reported that the Environmental Protection Agency is working with other government agencies to determine the nature of the balls and the source of the pollution.

Barriers and flags have been placed around Coogee Beach, where cleanup teams are collecting the balls to prevent them from being washed away.

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Experts have warned that the balls could pose a threat to marine life, stressing the need for continued monitoring of the situation. It is expected that the beaches will reopen within a few days following a risk assessment.