Bondi Beach covered in millions of styrofoam balls from pollution spill 17km away
A shocking event that unfolded 17 kilometres away has tarnished the pristine sands of one of the nation’s most iconic beaches.
Environment
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A major effort is underway to clean-up a dangerous mess that has accumulated at one of the nation’s most iconic beaches.
Concerned locals have flocked to Bondi Beach on Friday morning to remove the millions of polystyrene balls that have washed up on shore in recent days.
“Urgent: Polystyrene balls littering the middle to south end of the beach!,” Bondi local James McIntosh said in a post to Bondi Local Loop on Thursday night.
“Join us tomorrow to clean up. Bring a bag and be a beach hero. Let’s protect our marine friends!”
Another local alerted federal member for Wentworth, Allegra Spender, to the problem in a message with the opening line: “It’s snowing in Bondi!”
“The beach has a huge amount of styrofoam balls at the water’s edge tonight,” the person said in a message.
“Please help tomorrow if you’re swimming and bring along a plastic bag and scoop up what you can.”
Ms Spender shared the “horrible” news with her 17,400 followers, adding the pollution is believed to be a result of an incident at Long Reef on the city’s northern beaches.
“Yuk! Horrible little styrofoam balls are washing up on our beautiful Bondi Beach,” she said.
“The balls come from a broken pontoon at Long Reef.
“It is ugly mess for us, but imagine how utterly devastating it is for our marine life and wildlife on the shorelines and ocean.
Northern Beaches Clean Up Crew have taken charge of the massive clean-up effort at Long Reef, which they said resulted from a homemade barge abandoned in the water.
“This barge in Long Reef is continuing to create havoc, releasing polystyrene, otherwise known as styrofoam, all over the beaches,” the group said in a post three days ago.
“The birds are eating it, it’s all over the sand and in the water. The police, council, EPA, DPI, Maritime, etc. have all been advised and despite all these resources, no one seem capable of doing anything about it.”
“Looks like it’s been snowing all over Long Reef all the way to Manly and Cabbage Tree Bay.”
NSW EPA has been contacted for comment.
Originally published as Bondi Beach covered in millions of styrofoam balls from pollution spill 17km away
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