Coastline Management
Warringah Council has 14 km of coastline that is characterised by a series of embayments, generally backed by coastal dunes and reserves that stretch from North Narrabeen in the north to Queenscliff rock pool in the south. Warringah’s ten beaches are highly valued by the community and are also very popular with tourists during the summer months.
Warringah’s beaches evolved to their present condition relatively recently (in geological terms). About 17 000 years ago as the last ice age ended sea levels started to rise. At about 6000 years ago the sea level stabilised. This rise in sea level ‘pushed’ sand ‘upwards’ and deposited within the current embayments, giving rise to the familiar sandy beaches seen along the New South Wales coast. For more information on Warringah's beaches, click here.
Much of the rain that falls on the coastal areas of Warringah, ends up in stormwater, draining to our ocean or lagoons. This means that the quality of stormwater affects the water we swim in at our beaches. Council works hard to improve stormwater quality by installing special traps on stormwater drains, and through community education. For current water quality at our beaches, have a look at the Beachwatch Website.
Coastal dunes are an important part of the Warringah coastline. They are a special habitat for a range of animals, and also offer protection from heavy seas. Council actively stabilises and rehabilitates the coastal dunes at Narrabeen, Long Reef, Dee Why, Curl Curl and Freshwater beaches.
In recent years, particular focus has been given to the coastline along the Collaroy/Narrabeen beachfront, as this is one of the most vulnerable areas in Australia to coastal erosion. Of the 10 beaches in the Warringah LGA, it is Collaroy/Narrabeen Beach that presents Council with its greatest challenges.
Collaroy and Narrabeen Beaches have experienced a long history of storm damage and coastal erosion, with the beaches ranked nationally as the third area most at risk from coastal processes. To help address these issues, Warringah Council worked with the State Government and local community to develop the Collaroy/Narrabeen Coastline Management Plan (the Plan). The Plan is in accordance with the State Government's Coastline Hazards Policy and was formally adopted by Council in 1997.
Since adopting the Plan, Council has carried out a number of the recommended actions aimed at preserving and protecting the beach as a national asset for public recreation and amenity; and ensuring that building and development along Collaroy/Narrabeen Beach has regard to the current and future hazards of wave impact and coastal erosion.
Council's advisory committee on coastal management issues is the Warringah Coastal Management Committee. The committee meets on a quarterly basis and is comprised of Warringah citizens, user-groups, State Government and Council representatives.
For more information contact Council on (02) 9942 2111.
