Mysterious debris balls wash up on NSW South Coast beaches

Eurobodalla Shire Council on the NSW Far South Coast last week reported mysterious debris balls having washed up on at least two beaches – in a similar scenario to the mixed waste balls that appeared on Sydney beaches in October.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) found the ball-shaped debris on 1080 Beach and Pooles Beach at Mystery Bay, which is south of Narooma, earlier this month.

A NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) spokesperson advised that the balls were spread across 200 metres of 1080 Beach and varied in size and shape.

Both beaches have been closed for the clean-up, while signs have been installed to advise visitors of the contamination.

NPWS will continue to monitor Mystery Bay’s beaches in the coming days.

EPA officers also went to the beaches on Thursday 12th December to collect samples for analysis.

A Eurobodalla Council spokesperson said NPWS was managing the clean-up of the debris balls at both 1080 Beach and Pooles Beach, which will be monitored over the coming days.

“The collected balls are being stored at Surf Beach Waste Facility,” the council spokesperson advised and added “we are waiting for the EPA to complete their waste classification investigation and to confirm they are not hazardous and can be buried in landfill.”

Beachgoers are advised not to handle the debris balls as there source is still unknown.

A similar scenario occurred on Sydney’s eastern suburb beaches in October 2024 when black balls were washed up on the sand resulting in the closure of the beaches and a large clean-up effort.

These balls were reported to contain a combination of faeces, oil, chemicals and drugs.

Image. One of the mysterious balls that washed up at 1080 Beach, near Mystery Bay. Credit: Eurobodalla Shire Council.