Sydneysiders advised to avoid Coogee Beach after debris washed ashore

One of Sydney’s most popular beaches has been closed after hundreds of mysterious black balls washed up on shore.

Transcript

00:00This picture of paradise is usually teeming with activity.

00:05Today, locals and visitors are shut out after a peculiar case of black tar balls washing

00:12up on Coogee Beach's shores yesterday afternoon.

00:16Since then, it's been closed as authorities have worked around the clock to try and clear

00:21the beach of the debris.

00:23Exactly what comprises their material is not entirely clear.

00:27Neither is how it arrived at just Coogee Beach.

00:31However, one prevailing theory is that it could be the product of an oil seepage or

00:35spill and the mixture of those elements with the seawater has formed these black tar balls.

00:42Locals hoping to have a dip today found themselves disappointed but understanding the council's

00:47decision to close the beach.

00:49We saw the news last night and everyone messaged me last night because everyone knows that

00:54I like to come down to the beach first thing in the morning, six o'clock, without fail.

00:59I guess they don't know what contaminants are in there and when it's safe to go in again

01:04so I guess it's a precaution well needed.

01:07Another curious question is to how these black balls have only been spotted on Coogee Beach

01:12and not at other nearby beaches.

01:15Either way, it's good news for people hoping to have a swim as Mayor of Randwick Council

01:19Dillon Parker has advised people though they can't come to Coogee, they can go elsewhere.

01:25Beaches do close from time to time for a range of different reasons, water pollution, large

01:30storm events and the like.

01:33We've taken the precaution to close the beach and hopefully we'll be able to have it open

01:36soon but until that work happens, best to go for a walk, go to the park or visit another

01:41part of Sydney.

01:42Exactly when Coogee Beach will reopen actually remains unclear.

01:46Authorities are anticipating at high tide tonight around 8pm EDT, more black tar balls

01:53will wash up on the shore.

01:55At the moment there aren't any on Coogee Beach but with the spectre of them returning, precautions

02:01are being taken and the beach remains closed.