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| Potential oil slick spotted off Sydney’s Coogee beach after mysterious black balls wash ashore | Potential oil slick spotted off Sydney’s Coogee beach after mysterious black balls wash ashore |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Beachgoers warned not to touch the material, which could be ‘tar balls’ formed from oil spills or seepage at sea | Beachgoers warned not to touch the material, which could be ‘tar balls’ formed from oil spills or seepage at sea |
| A potential oil slick has been spotted off the coast of Coogee in Sydney a day after after hundreds of “mysterious black, ball-shaped debris” washed up along the beach. | A potential oil slick has been spotted off the coast of Coogee in Sydney a day after after hundreds of “mysterious black, ball-shaped debris” washed up along the beach. |
| Lifeguards discovered the golf-ball sized debris washing up on the beach on Tuesday afternoon at the popular eastern suburbs beach. | Lifeguards discovered the golf-ball sized debris washing up on the beach on Tuesday afternoon at the popular eastern suburbs beach. |
| Randwick city council environmental officers collected samples and sent them for testing. In the meantime, people were advised not to touch or go near them. The beach was closed until further notice. | |
| The incident was also reported to the Environment Protection Authority and Beachwatch NSW. | |
| The Randwick council mayor, Dylan Parker, said debris balls were still washing up on the beach on Wednesday morning. | The Randwick council mayor, Dylan Parker, said debris balls were still washing up on the beach on Wednesday morning. |
| More were also spotted on Wedding Cake Island 1km off Coogee beach. | More were also spotted on Wedding Cake Island 1km off Coogee beach. |
| The council said the unknown material could be “tar balls” formed when oil comes into contact with debris and water – usually as a result of oil spills or seepage. | The council said the unknown material could be “tar balls” formed when oil comes into contact with debris and water – usually as a result of oil spills or seepage. |
| Council jetskis spotted what may be an oil slick out at sea on Wednesday morning, Parker said. However, it has not yet been confirmed. | |
| The council posted to social media Tuesday evening: “Coogee beach is closed until further notice after council lifeguards this afternoon discovered mysterious black, ball-shaped debris washed along the length of the beach. | The council posted to social media Tuesday evening: “Coogee beach is closed until further notice after council lifeguards this afternoon discovered mysterious black, ball-shaped debris washed along the length of the beach. |
| “Council is investigating the origin and composition of the material, which has the appearance of dark spheres.” | “Council is investigating the origin and composition of the material, which has the appearance of dark spheres.” |
| The council was arranging for the material to be safely removed from the beach and began inspections of other nearby beaches. | The council was arranging for the material to be safely removed from the beach and began inspections of other nearby beaches. |
| Beachgoers were advised to avoid Coogee beach until further notice and not touch the material while the clean-up and investigations continue. | Beachgoers were advised to avoid Coogee beach until further notice and not touch the material while the clean-up and investigations continue. |
| The beach will be cleaned and opened again “hopefully in a matter of days,” Parker said on Wednesday. | The beach will be cleaned and opened again “hopefully in a matter of days,” Parker said on Wednesday. |