Northern Beaches tar balls: Nine beaches closed as debris washes up along the shore

Nine beaches have been closed after balls of debris washed ashore, echoing a spate of shorelines to close last year when balls of tar washed up.

Northern Beaches Council on Tuesday raised the alarm on the predominantly marble-sized balls of debris.

Beachgoers are being asked to avoid Manly, Dee Why, Long Reef, Queenscliff, Freshwater, North and South Curl Curl, North Steyne and North Narrabeen beaches until further notice.

The council said it was alerted to the debris by the Environment Protection Agency, which is collecting samples for testing.

“So far, most samples identified are marble-sized with a few larger in size,” the council said in a statement.

“The council is organising the safe removal of the matter and is inspecting other beaches.”

It comes just months after “tar balls” washed up on several Sydney beaches.

Ball-shaped debris was reported to the NSW EPA in early December at the eastern end of Silver Beach at Kurnell.

Samples were collected to be analysed and compared to others found in the two months prior.

Some of Sydney’s most popular beaches were closed in October by the “tar balls”.

Council lifeguards first discovered the potentially toxic dark spheres along the length of Coogee Beach.

More spheres were later discovered at other beaches in the city’s east including Gordons Bay, Maroubra Beach and Clovelly Beach, prompting Randwick Council urging the public to stay away.

These four beaches were shut due to the investigation, and Bondi Beach, Tamarama Beach and Bronte Beaches were also shut “as a precaution”.