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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Jessica Brown

Logs, sheds, water tanks, dead animals found in ocean debris

Logs, garden sheds, water tanks, dead animals and even refrigerators have been spotted off the NSW coast after last week's severe weather event.

NSW Maritime continues to call for all non-essential boating to cease..

"Not the best time for a swim on the Central Coast," a NSW Maritime statement said after mapping the pollution area coming from the Hawkesbury River.

"Satellite imagery shows the flood plume. The dense plume is now more than 60kms long and 40kms wide. Boaters should use extreme caution and consider delaying all non-essential boating as hazardous debris is still present throughout large areas of the NSW waterway system."

VIEW: A satellite image of the flood plume leaving the Hawkesbury River and heading north. Picture: NSW Maritime

The Hunter's coastlines have not been immune to the pollution. On Sunday NSW Fire and Rescue Hazmat crews had to close Newcastle Beach after a 1000-litre container of "dangerous materials" washed ashore. It was found to contain oil and was safely drained before being removed from the beach.

NSW Marine Rescue teams were also alerted to a water tank, about 2.5 metres in diameter, off the coast of Lake Macquarie, while a similar tank washed up on Merewether Beach in a battered state on Tuesday.

"The water might look blue and clean, but there's lots of debris such as this water tank out there - and it might be lurking just under the surface," a NSW Marine Rescue statement said.

"Make the catch of the day a whiting not whitegoods: keep an eye out for debris and stay safe."

FOUND: This 2.5m diameter water tank was located off Lake Macquarie over the weekend.

Issues have also arisen in the rivers with Newcastle Marina Rescue called out to assist a trawler that was surrounded by logs and debris from the flooded Hunter River.

"The concern was if the trawler activated its propellers the debris could cause damage," a spokesperson said.

"NC30 pulled the vessel away from its jetty with no further assistance required."

Picture: Marine Rescue Newcastle

Further south a large blue/green coloured jacuzzi was spotted bobbing in the waters off Collaroy Beach before being removed by council crews. An old, rusty 44-gallon drum with a BP logo was also found on Collaroy Beach this week following the wild weather.

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