Remarkable photos reveal 'eye-opening' problem at 'Australia's ugliest beach'
Sydney locals say the alarming sight is a common occurrence and offers a poignant reminder of our sad reliance on plastic.
Glancing at these photos, you'd be forgiven for thinking this is a sad scene from Bali or another Southeast Asian location struggling with their well-documented plastic pollution problem. But this alarming mass of plastic is in fact on a Sydney beach, offering a disturbing reminder of the waste issue we continue to face.
"It really is the ugliest beach in Australia," local Viv Polyblank, who took the photos, told Yahoo News Australia. "There's just an awful, awful lot of plastic."
While the astonishing build-up of plastics at Tower Beach at the north end of Botany Bay next to Sydney Airport can shock those viewing it for the first time, she says she's become accustomed to the "disgusting" sight over the years and it is a semi-regular occurrence from king tides and wild weather.
Viv agrees the beach is a real "eye-opener" and offers a disturbing insight into the city's waste problem. "It's pretty filthy and it sort of gives an indication of our reliance on plastics," she said.
Where does the rubbish come from?
While the beach is often littered with everyday single-use plastics like drinks bottles, Viv says there's an array of rubbish that ends up on the beach. She fears the beach cops the brunt of illegal dumping, and with two rivers running into Botany Bay, winds from the south push waste that has drifted downstream onto the beach. One of those rivers is the Cooks River and Viv has found a discarded parking permit from the City of Canada Bay, whose council border is roughly 14km away.
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Even more concerning for Viv is the waste difficult to spot in her photos, such as broken-up polystyrene and micro-plastics, which can be devastating for marine life and wildlife.
A silver lining to the problem is the adjacent sea wall lining the runway of Sydney Airport means the waste congregates in one spot, making it easier to clean up. That clean up is done by Transport for NSW's Maritime division, who regularly attend the site to remove accumulated waste. Work is currently underway to clear the current build-up of plastic.
The beach is popular with dog walkers and plane enthusiasts, who visit to get a front-row seat of departing and arriving aircraft. And while Viv says the water can appear pristine at times, it unsurprisingly doesn't attract too many sun bakers or swimmers.
Bayside Council, which governs the majority of the Botany Bay coastline, says waste management is one of the biggest challenges it faces at its beaches and pleads with visitors to minimise their waste.
"The most effective waste management starts with everyone. We encourage all foreshore visitors to "Leave Only Footprints" on our beaches, and to responsibly dispose of rubbish in the bins provided or take it with them," council says. "Your cooperation plays a crucial role in preserving the beauty of our foreshore.
Concerns over Sydney beach's water quality
To make matters worse for the beach, there are ongoing fears about the water quality surrounding Sydney Airport due to the previous use of firefighting foam containing per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
While the NSW Environment Protection Authority says the threat has diminished over the years, a new round of water testing has been ordered after visitors to the beach complained about insufficient warnings on the issue. Beachgoers have previously been told to avoid the water and fishermen were advised not to eat their catch after detection of PFAS in fish in Botany Bay.
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