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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Anne Davies NSW state correspondent

The 16-month battle to reveal the truth about Sydney Water’s poo balls

A huge fatberg in Sydney Water’s Malabar sewage plant is responsible for the poo balls that have closed Sydney beaches
A huge fatberg in Sydney Water’s Malabar sewage plant is responsible for the poo balls that have closed Sydney beaches. Composite: Victoria Hart/Guardian design

Last week, after torrential rain in Sydney, fresh poo balls washed up on the beach at Malabar, the closest beach to the problematic Malabar sewage treatment plant.

Signs were erected on the beach warning people not to touch the “debris balls” or swim. But authorities didn’t let the wider community know. There were no other warnings issued by Sydney Water, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) or the state government.

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