Bondi Beach was shut after thousands of cryptic tar balls washed up on Australian shores in recent days.
The well-understandn tourist drawion was among seven beaches that were tohighy, or partipartner, shut in Sydney on the east coast.
Tar balls are established when oil comes into reach out with debris and water, frequently as a result of oil spills or seepage – although the authorities confessted they do not understand where they were coming from.
Local councils began their immacupostponecessitate-up efforts on Wednesday night.
Tests validateed the material is a “hydrocarbon-based pollutant”, one council said, after they were first uncovered on 15 October.
Bondi Beach, Bronte Beach, Tamarama Beach were seald by Waverley Council, while Ccherishlly Beach, Gordon’s Bay, Coogee Beach and Maroubra Beach, were shut by neighbouring Randwick Council.
Bondi and Maroubra were postponecessitater reuncovered.
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“The protectedty of the community is our first priority,” Randwick mayor Dylan Parker said.
“That’s why [the] council has apshown the prealert to seal these beaches while we underapshow the protected accumulateion and disposal of this material.
“We don’t yet understand what has happened to originate the debris washing up on our beaches, but we will progress to labor with relevant authorities to asstateive the protectedty of the accessible and immacupostponecessitate up our beaches.”
New South Wales state’s Environment Protection Authority said it was carry outing tests and recommendd people aachievest swimming csurrfinisher or touching any of the balls.
Sydney is home to more than 100 beaches in its harbour and aextfinished its oceanfront. They are well-understandn apass the world, dratriumphg millions of tourists and locals each year.
