Council issues 'temporary' beach health warning

Central Coast Council has issued a "temporary health warning" after routine water quality monitoring has detected elevated bacteria levels at Ettalong Beach.

The council installed temporary health warning signs and advised people not to swim at Ettalong until the signs were removed.

The signs were installed at major beach access points on Thursday, January 8, and an officer was on-site to advise beachgoers in the morning.

"Monitoring will continue until levels return to an acceptable standard," according to a council social media post.

"This issue is not related to the recent algal bloom reported at other beaches in the north of the region."

The post said that the monitoring was part of Council's ongoing Beachwatch program.

"Enterococci bacteria occur naturally and can come from animals or stormwater.

"There is no indication of a pollution or sewage event.

"Water quality is good at nearby Umina Beach and Ocean Beach, so head there instead."

For daily water quality forecasts, visit https://beachwatch.nsw.gov.au/.

SOURCE:

Social media, 9 Jan 2026

Central Coast Council

Plan for $19.5M erosion management is not scheduled

Implementation of the Umina-Ocean Beach Erosion Management Strategy has been costed at $19.5 million, but no funding has been programmed for it in the next eight years.

The project is the largest foreshadowed for Central Coast Council in the final draft of the Hawkesbury Nepean Coastal Management Program.

The draft is expected to be placed on public exhibition early this year.

The Council's Environment and Planning Committee recommended that the December 9 council meeting seek public comment "to ensure that exhibition can proceed at the same time as the other partner Councils".

However, it did not appear on the agenda for that meeting.

The draft states: "The Umina-Ocean Beach Erosion Management Strategy provides a detailed framework for managing coastal erosion at Umina-Ocean Beach over the long term.

"The preferred approach to managing coastal erosion risk at Umina-Ocean Beach is through beach nourishment.

"However, Erosion Management Strategy also includes provision for the future construction of a terminal protection structure if coastal erosion reaches a trigger point where it significantly threatens critical infrastructure along The Esplanade.

"The strategy outlines a concept design for coastal protection, which features a rock-armoured revetment stretching from Kourung St boat ramp to Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club and a stepped concrete seawall in front of the club."

The project would include "development of a trigger for installation of coastal protection works".

"This should be based on the proximity of observed (or predicted) coastal erosion to key assets and infrastructure to a point where erosion is believed to place key assets and infrastructure at risk.

"It is Council's strong preference to maintain a natural dune profile in front of the club for as long as this remains feasible.

"The installation of a TPS in the form of a stepped concrete seawall would only be considered as a last resort option if progressive erosion results in the complete loss of the foredune.

"Should it proceed, there would be community engagement to ensure public input and feedback are incorporated into the final design, promoting transparency and local support for the project.

"Council would endeavour to maintain and enhance the existing dune buffer by a combination of vegetation planting and maintenance, beach scraping to enhance beach recovery following storm erosion, and opportunistic beach nourishment campaigns using sand sourced from maintenance dredging."

The draft allocates $140,000 over the next four years for a coastal vegetation and dune management strategy for Broken Bay beaches, with a total of $350,000 allocated over 10 years.

A Broken Bay Beach Nourishment Framework is allocated $85,000 over the next four years, with a total of $205,000 allocated over 10 years.

An updated Beach Maintenance Program for Broken Bay beaches is allocated $250,000, with a total of $550,000 allocated over 10 years.

The actions described for the Peninsula in the final draft of Coastal Management Program appear to be largely unchanged from the Stage 3 consultation round at the end of 2024.

The 445-page document claims that this consultation across the catchment area showed no less than 75 per cent support in online feedback for any one proposed action.

Average support was 97 per cent.

It claims to provide a "detailed implementation plan" to "translate the recommended management actions into a practical, costed pathway for delivery".

However, a number of actions that rely entirely on council funding are not costed and no expenditure is programmed.

Among the projects programmed for the next four years are $2.44 million in coastal protection at Lance Webb Reserve, Ettalong, and $625,000 at the Rip Rd Reserve, Booker Bay.

The Phegans Bay Foreshore Management Plan has also been allocated $500,000.

Close to $5 million of work has been programmed for the Peninsula for the next four years, and a total of about $8 million over eight years.

SOURCE:

Agenda, 2 Dec 2025

Environment and Planning Committee, Central Coast Council MORE DETAILS - Page 4