A regional beach has been closed after potentially toxic debris washed ashore.

The mystery material was found along Forrest Beach, about 80km north of Townsville, on Friday afternoon.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Mystery debris washes up at Forrest Beach

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Emergency services raced to the beach and shut down access as investigations were launched into where it had come from.

7NEWS captured footage of investigators scouring the beach before being told by police to leave as the situation was more severe than initially thought.

Initial reports suggest the material was debris from a crashed satellite, specifically a hydrogelic propellant, according to police.

The propellant is a eco-friendly alternative to a highly reactive and flammable fuel most commonly used in satellites.

However, emergency services remain cautious and are waiting until confirmation on the source of the debris before reopening the beach.