Fatty ball debris washing up on more NSW beaches, threatening tourism
One of many mysterious ball-shaped bits of debris that washed up on far south coast beaches last week. (Supplied: Eurobodalla Shire Council)
In short:
Fatty ball-shaped debris has been found on six New South Wales far south coast beaches.
Similar balls containing traces of human faeces and cooking oil previously washed up on multiple Sydney beaches in October.
What's next?
Businesses fear summer the peak tourism period could be impacted if more beach closures are needed.
Months after mysterious ball-shaped debris found to contain traces of human faeces washed up on the shores of Sydney, similar-looking balls have been located more than 300 kilometres south, with locals concerned it could deter tourists during their busiest summer period.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) confirmed the discovery of the debris balls on six beaches near Dalmeny and Narooma between December 11 and 17.
"The debris balls are currently being stored in a waste facility on the South Coast," an EPA spokesperson told the ABC in a statement.
"We are testing them … to determine how they should be disposed.
"As this investigation is ongoing, it is unclear what the debris balls are made of or whether they have the same origin or source as similar debris balls that washed ashore on beaches in Sydney's suburbs in October."
Slimy balls have washed up on six far south coast beaches this month. (Supplied: Environment Protection Authority)
Similar dark-coloured balls were initially found on beaches in Sydney's eastern suburbs in mid-October and some were discovered at Kiama on the NSW south coast in November.
A spokesperson for the EPA confirmed initial testing results suggested the Kiama debris contains the same materials as the balls found in Sydney but that further analysis was needed.
A piece of the mysterious debris that washed up on beaches along the far south coast. (Supplied: Eurobodalla Shire Council)
Biomarkers of human waste
The balls retrieved from beaches in Sydney in October were tested by University of NSW chemistry professor Jon Beves who found their contents to be consistent with compounds of "human-generated waste."
"Every single ball had a different composition … but most of it was from modern sources," he said.
One of the mysterious balls found at 1080 Beach near Mystery Bay. (Supplied: Eurobodalla Shire Council)
Testing of the Sydney balls found traces of cooking oil, soap, medication, recreational drugs and biomarkers of human waste.
"They are the sorts of things you'd find in a sewer … not the sort of things you'd be wanting to touch,"Dr Beves said.
He said it could not be determined if the balls found on the far south coast were from the same or similar source without testing a sample.
The University of NSW tested the balls found at Sydney's beaches. (Supplied: Jon Beves)
'Risks are considerable'
Western Sydney University School of Sciences Associate Professor Ian Wright said it was a most unusual case, but highly plausible that the balls had floated from Sydney to the far south coast and could spread even further.
He said it appeared the problem had started in Sydney and was moving south, and that the EPA needed to do more to stop the spread of the fatty balls.
"As regulators, they should really get on top of this to find out what it is, is it moving, and what can we do about it to clean it up,"he said.
"But more importantly, how can we make sure that this is not going to happen again?"
Ian Wright says the balls pose a serious threat to beachgoers and could contain human pathogens. ( ABC News: Lani Oataway )
Dr Wright said he was concerned the balls could contain human pathogens and make anyone who touches them on the beach sick.
"The risks of this are considerable," he said.
The balls found on the far south coast are similar to those that washed up on Coogee Beach (pictured) in October. (ABC News: Digby Werthmuller)
'Disappointment' for tourism
The discovery of the debris balls forced the closure of the beaches along the far south coast last week and while all the beaches are now open, Narooma Chamber of Commerce president Stephanie Dibden is concerned the balls washing up could affect the region's busiest tourism period.
"We rely on this six-week Christmas period for the majority of our trade throughout the year," she said.
"It will cast a big shadow of disappointment for those tourists coming down specifically for that beach escape.
"Something like this could even put people off from coming."
The EPA has warned members of the public who located similar ball-shaped debris on NSW beaches to not pick them up and to notify the agency.
1080 Beach was closed after the mysterious balls washed up last week. (Supplied: Kaytlin Langdon)