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Randwick City Beaches located in Sydney's east, reopened for the weekend after Transport for NSW Maritime issued the all-clear advising the ball-shaped debris is not highly toxic to humans.

The five beaches, located in the Randwick City Council LGA - Coogee, Clovelly, Maroubra, Malabar and Gordons Bay were closed to the public last week after thousands of ball-shaped tar debris were found.

Early morning inspections conducted on Friday by Council’s Environmental Health Officers identified small quantities of debris still being washed ashore, much less than first appeared on Tuesday.

Randwick City Council has been in consultation with the NSW EPA, NSW Maritime, Eastern Beaches Local Area Command, Surf Life Saving NSW and the presidents of the Coogee, Clovelly, Maroubra and South Maroubra surf life saving clubs.

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker said reopening the beaches was welcomed by beach goers, surfers and surf lifesaving clubs.

Mayor Parker noted “I’m very pleased that the NSW EPA has now formally identified the material and made an assessment about its toxicity level.

“Randwick Council will continue to conduct regular inspections of our beaches and will be removing any material as quickly as possible.

“The advice is the material is not harmful to people when it’s on the ground. If people find more debris, it is best not to handle it but to report it to a Randwick City Council Lifeguard or through Council’s call centre 1300 722 542 for collection.

“I would like to thank the community for their patience while Council and its partners at the NSW Government worked through this unusual event to protect the safety of our residents and our precious marine environment.”

Image. Coogee Beach. Credit: Randwick City Council

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