Coastline Management

Warringah Council has 14km of coastline that is characterised by a series of bays, generally backed by coastal dunes and reserves that stretch from North Narrabeen to Queenscliff rock pool. Warringah’s nine beaches are highly valued by the community and tourists.

Beaches

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. About 6,000 years ago the sea level stabilised. This rise in sea level ‘pushed’ sand ‘upwards’ and deposited it within the current bays, giving rise to the familiar sandy beaches seen along the NSW coast. For more information on Warringah's beaches, click here.

Stormwater

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, visit Beachwatch.

Dunes

Coastal dunes are an important part of the Warringah coastline. They are a special habitat for a range of animals and offer protection from heavy seas. Council actively stabilises and rehabilitates the coastal dunes at Narrabeen, Long Reef, Dee Why, Curl Curl and Freshwater beaches.

Coastal Erosion

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 nine 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 (PDF, 6MB). 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 call 9942 2111.