Northern Beaches’ previously under threat Beachwatch program has been renewed by the State Government for another two years following advocacy from coastal councils and climate groups.
The Beachwatch program, established in 1989, is a state funded service which tests the water quality in 92 swimming spots across 14 Sydney councils. It’s used by Northern Beaches swimmers daily to check the quality of water before taking a dip. The program tests for swim site bacteria and pollutants that could lead to health issues. The collection of high-quality data also provides the ability to forecast pollution after heavy rainfall.
This program was almost significantly altered – if not completely defunded – when the State Government attempted to implement the new Universal Beachwatch Partnership Program last June, which looked to cost-shift water testing services onto coastal councils, arguing rural councils have always paid for theirs.
Local councils are simply not funded nor equipped to reliably carry out the scientifically rigorous, accurate and consistent water sampling of our beaches that is required to ensure public safety.
Rather than delegating the task of monitoring water quality to local councils, Surfrider Foundation Australia recommends sufficient funding and an expansion of the NSW Government Beachwatch program to include testing and monitoring for a wider range of contaminants e.g. PFAS, expanded sampling locations, and stronger laws for breaches of sewage overflow events.”
Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe argued last year, it would create an equal system where everyone pays for their own water testing. However, regional and rural areas have their own water authority, while state-owned Sydney Water is responsible for the city’s sewerage management and treatment.
After major backlash from councils, the State Government decided to extend the consultation period another 12 months.
“The difference is in the regional and rural areas, they are their own water authority. So they’re responsible for their water, drinking water, and sewerage,” Northern Beaches Mayor Heins told Manly Observer 12 months ago.
“We know that people get ill after major weather events and it’s important to know which beaches are clean and healthy and safe to actually swim at.”
“We know that people get ill after major weather events and it’s important to know which beaches are clean and healthy and safe to actually swim at.”
Mayor Heins believed the cost-shift to be illogical and a “cost-prohibitive exercise for an individual council” as they do not have responsibility for sewerage management/treatment.
The Minns Government recently admitted the updated system would be a challenge for Sydney councils and announced the current funding model of $18.5 million for the Beachwatch program will remain in the upcoming State budget. The Northern Beaches would have to contribute approximately $130,000 annually if the service funding was cut.
A Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) spokesperson told us the NSW Government is committed to the new funding practices while a new program goes through the design and consultation process and no decisions on what this may look like have been made.
Council And Community Advocacy
The Minns Government conceded the decision to keep funding the Beachwatch program was made when councils “made their case” and they listened. But, they weren’t alone – local communities and groups also played their hand in innovative ways to sway the services back into State funding.
Rowan Hanley, Secretary from the Surfrider Foundation Northern Beaches Branch said the arrival of poo balls on our beaches earlier this year highlight that the state needed to be providing further water quality testing, not defunding it.
“Rather than delegating the task of monitoring water quality to local councils, Surfrider Foundation Australia recommends sufficient funding and an expansion of the NSW Government Beachwatch program to include testing and monitoring for a wider range of contaminants e.g. PFAS, expanded sampling locations, and stronger laws for breaches of sewage overflow events,” Hanley said.
Josh Kirkman, CEO of climate action group Surfers for Climate, led the charge by gathering impersonators of the popular 90s TV drama Baywatch in hopes of turning heads to the issue.
“Once it kind of looked like it was getting close to budget time, we pulled together a pretty quick creative campaign, got a couple of local models to be our Pamela and our Hoff, and put them to work… I even debuted my own acting skills as the unlucky recipient of a fair bit of [artificial] ‘fecal matter’ on the face,” Josh told Manly Observer on a golden hour afternoon near Shelly walkway.
“I think it’s important when you campaign that you do try and have fun. And I think people respond really well to humour… And look, the community responded really quickly to that call to action.”
The group decided to take advocacy into their own hands once LGAs began writing to the State Government saying they refused to pay for the program.
The poo-smearing campaign wasn’t just symbolism of the group’s thoughts on the cost shift, but rather an exaggerated portrayal of how ill-managed pollution could negatively affect not only resident’s health but also the millions of tourists who visit Sydney beaches each year.
And their fictitious portrayal wasn’t far off reality as thousands of “tar balls” washed-up on local shores earlier this year with the state Environment Protection Authority (EPA) confirming they originated from sewage networks among other places.
Mayor Heins said the decision to keep funding going was a case of “common sense prevailing.”
“We were relieved to hear the NSW Government listened to the lengthy advocacy of coastal councils like ours and recently announced they will continue to fund their Beachwatch program,” she said.
The Plan After Two Years
Although the DCCEEW have confirmed the NSW Government has committed to continue current funding practices, a new program is currently under consultation. Ms Sharpe alluded to this in a press release stating the current arrangements will continue as “long-term sustainability of the program is realised.”
In any case, Josh believes advocacy should remain strong not only from local governments but from the voices of communities and encourages people to reach out to their local MPs in showing support for the program – right up until next election time.
“It never hurts to always just engage with your local MP on these local issues… any MP can be a champion for the environment. I don’t think it matters whether they’re Labor, Green, Liberal, National or Independent,” Josh said.
“The funding secured from the State Government for another couple of years, which is crucial, really does kind of set itself up for an election discussion. There will be an election in 2027. I think we’ll see all sides of politics probably lean into how much we want to invest in understanding pollution events when they happen.”
You may also be interested in reading:
Water waste: a look at our polluted lagoons and the traps they depend on
