Arguably our city's most loved beach, North Gong has had a terrible 2025 so far.

Earlier in the year, for many weeks the beach was covered in thick matted seaweed, making swimming an unpleasant experience.

More recently, for well over a month, the normally pristine golden sands have had tons of pebbles and rocks deposited or exposed across the shoreline. Many regulars have likened North Gong to the rocky beaches of France and the Mediterranean.

It's raised questions. Why has our only year-round patrolled beach taken such a turn for the worse?

Some suggest it could be related to the construction of a new seawall associated with the renovation of the North Wollongong Surf Club which has created new steps intruding closer to the surf break. Others say it's just an act of nature. So much of the east coast of Australia has experienced intense low-pressure systems that have created some of the biggest seas ever witnessed in these parts.

Another question that's been asked as beachgoers tiptoe through the weed and the rocks is why hasn't someone been tasked with cleaning up the mess?

Spending the quiet times cleaning up

Steven Thomas, a former beach inspector and lifeguard, said that previously beach inspectors would spend the quiet times – when there were no bathers or a beach was closed due to dangerous conditions – cleaning the beach and burying seaweed.

In a recent letter to the Illawarra Mercury, he said "Shellharbour Council beaches seem to outdo Wollongong Council beaches in the cleanliness stakes, but they both need regular raking, especially after big seas.

"North Wollongong Beach is a classic example with users being exposed to many stones, plastic pieces, driftwood and dried seaweed, which we all know cuts your feet when stepped on," Steven said. "Councils have enough heavy machinery to do this job easily and effectively in a short time, so why isn't it done?

"Surely, beaches are one of a council's main assets and attractions, and by the looks of things, they need a lot more attention. Where does the ratepayer's money go anyway? Not much seems to be going to beaches?"

'Never seen it in this state of repair'

The host of popular Facebook page 'North Beach Daily', Kel reports live at 7am every morning on the condition of the beach and surf conditions for the day ahead. Over the past seven years, Kel and his wife, Michelle, have attracted a big following, numbering in their thousands.

Kel says he shares the concerns of many locals. "I've seen the beach change over the years but I've never seen it in this state of repair," he told The Illawarra Flame.

Kel has been a volunteer member of the North Wollongong Surf Club for 45 years and in the 1980s and 1990s he worked for Council, patrolling the beaches over summer.

"In those days if the beach was covered with lots of weed we had to rake it up and bury it," Kel said, adding that just went with the job.

He said one theory about why the beach has been so badly impacted by weed and stones this year has been the construction of the new seawall below the surf club.

"The new steps are beautiful, but you can't help but think that it's had an effect on the beachfront," Kel said.  "I've never seen so many pebbles on the beach. I don't know where they've come from but we've never seen them in this volume."

The problems exist well beyond Wollongong

A Council spokesperson says some of the challenges facing Wollongong and its beaches are being felt much further afield.

"Council's Natural Areas and Lifeguard teams manage and patrol 42 kilometres of coastline that is naturally susceptible to east coast lows and other extreme weather events,"  the spokesperson said.

"The conditions we have experienced in the past two years as a result of major flooding and large swell events have brought about significant change to, not only some of our beaches, but beaches along the entire east coast of Australia, including loss of built infrastructure, significant dune erosion, beach erosion and loss of sand exposing rocks and other natural items, and the depositing of major flood related debris on the coast, coming from local catchments.

"Conditions during these weather events can also result in levels of waste, litter and other debris depositing onto our foreshore and beaches that are beyond our normal maintenance programming resources to immediately remove.

"Council maintains our coastline, including walkway maintenance to some 125 beach access points, management of sand dunes, waste and rubbish removal, and beach raking along our patrolled beaches. During patrol hours (9am-4pm) at North Wollongong Beach, Council lifeguards litter pick as part of their daily duties and continue to provide assistance to Council's Natural Areas team carrying out coastal works and clean-ups through the present winter season.

"Council teams make every effort to keep our beaches clean and tidy for the enjoyment of beach visitors, but there are limits to what can be carried out ... to reduce environmental risk, the beach rake cleans from the mean tide line, while natural material is not removed from the beach unless it's deemed an immediate risk to beach users."

Significant impact also at Fairy Lagoon

The impact of weather and big seas has also been witnessed further north, at the entry to the Fairy Lagoon. The impact of the big seas is clearly visible, with metres of the southern bank washed away, exposing previously buried rock walls.  

The erosion of around five metres of the grassy banks has also exposed a gabion that was supporting drainage pipes near the Lagoon Restaurant. It's an area which has always been popular for families picnicking in the area.

Council has also closed off a walkway at an area just north of the surf club at North Wollongong. The scouring has created a hazard with wooden planks exposed, preventing anyone accessing the sand in that area.