Starting a coastal conversation

Wollongong City Council media release: Friday 3 June 2022

Wollongong’s coastline offers us a great lifestyle, enviable views and its role in supporting a diverse range of flora and fauna.

We’re proud of our coastline and as part of our commitment to protect and care for it we’re embarking on the first stage a new Wollongong Coastal Management Program (CMP). This long-term project will ultimately see the development of a strategy for the coordinated management of our coast and estuaries, guided by the Coastal Management Act 2016.

Our community has an important role to play in the CMP’s development. Our community’s voices are important in this scoping phase, which will determine what the CMP needs to include, what studies need to be prepared and who needs to be involved. We will also review the work that has been undertaken in the past to manage issues and challenges in our coastal areas.

Now is the time for our community to share their thoughts on changes – both good and bad – to our coast and estuaries, how they use and enjoy our beaches, headlands and rock platforms and what they love about this environment.

“Our coastal environment is a big part of who we are as a community and is intrinsically linked to our identity as a city,’’ Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.

“When you talk about Wollongong to anyone, it’s inevitable we reference our beach lifestyle – whether you’re a swimmer, walker or a whale watcher. We all have a voice and opinions about our coastal environment and now is the time to share them with Council so that this feedback can influence the Wollongong Coastal Management Program.’’

Engagement will start on 1 June 2022 with the launch of an interactive online mapping tool and online survey. There will be a series of pop-up stalls held across the city in late June to provide residents and visitors the opportunity to speak directly with the project team.

We will also be meeting with key stakeholders including representatives from local Aboriginal groups and surf life saving clubs.

“Wollongong City Council is responsible for about 60km of coastline that stretches from the Royal National Park in the north to Lake Illawarra in the south,’’ Wollongong City Council General Manager Greg Doyle said.

“We take our role as a caretaker and advocate seriously and we want to have the right measures in place for our mix of beaches, dunes, cliffs, headlands and rock platforms, small coastal creeks and estuaries.

“Each of these elements play an integral part in the experience of the city for our residents and visitors to our city. They’re some of our greatest assets and are highly valued. By developing the CMP we’re able to have an evidence-based approach to the ongoing care and management of these volatile and dynamic environments.

“The CMP also provides us with an opportunity to seek funding support from the state and federal government to deliver improvements to these assets and put us in the best possible position to adapt to, or mitigate against, the challenges of climate change.’’

Developing a CMP is made up of five stages:

• Stage 1: Identify the scope of the CMP
• Stage 2: Determine risks, vulnerabilities, and opportunities
• Stage 3: Identify and evaluate options
• Stage 4: Prepare, exhibit, finalise, certify, and adopt the CMP
• Stage 5: Implement, monitor, evaluate and report

For more information about the CMP or how to join the conversation, visit our website.

“We all have a role to play in supporting our much-loved coastal environment into the future,’’ Cr Bradbery said.

“It’s critical we hear from as many people as possible as we start the first stage of preparing our new CMP and I encourage people to hop online or talk with staff at one of our face-to-face engagement opportunities to understand how they can contribute to our city’s future.”

This project was supported with $66,000 from the NSW Government’s Coastal and Estuary Program.