NSW Government announces Beachwatch program to continue under current model for another two years
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On Wednesday June 4, 2025, the day before World Environment Day, and as we headed towards World Oceans Day on Sunday June 8, the Minns Labor Government announced it has committed to the current funding model for the Beachwatch program, which supports local councils to monitor the water quality of their beaches, rivers and inland swim sites.
Beachwatch currently provides high-quality data and information on pollution for 94 swimming spots right across Sydney, from our popular coastal beaches to new swimming spots in Penrith and Parramatta.
The program tests swim site bacteria and other pollutants that could lead to potential human health issues and takes into account recent rainfall to forecast the likelihood of pollution.
Under the former government, a decision was made to shift the cost of testing onto Sydney coastal councils.
The Minns Government stated it has decided that the former government’s proposal to change funding for Beachwatch would be a challenge for Sydney councils who have the vast majority of swim sites.
The NSW Government has decided to continue the program funding under the current model for another two years and will continue to work with Councils on sustainable long-term arrangements for Beachwatch, as more swim sites open.
Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Penny Sharpe said:
“Beachwatch is an important program for keeping swimmers informed of emerging pollution problems in our much-loved swimming spots.
“The Government is committed to genuine partnerships with councils. The Councils made their case, and we have listened.
“The previous changes to the Beachwatch program that were not fit for purpose. We will continue the current arrangements as long-term sustainability of the program is realised.”
Mayor Sue Heins also welcomed the announcement stating:
''The NSW Government listened to our advocacy and announced will continue to fund their Beachwatch program to keep locals and the visitors of visitors to our area informed on beach water quality. [it's] Great to see common sense prevail.''
The Sydney Coastal Councils Group (SCCG) welcomed the decision stating:
''This commitment, announced by the Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe, ensures that the program will remain state-funded, safeguarding public health and environmental integrity.
''The SCCG has been at the forefront of advocating for the Beachwatch program to remain a fully funded state responsibility. This advocacy was in response to proposed changes that would have shifted the financial burden of water quality monitoring onto local councils – a move that many councils, already facing budget constraints, opposed.'' the SCCG said in an issued statement
''The SCCG highlighted that local councils are not legally responsible for monitoring water quality in coastal waters, a responsibility that traditionally falls under state jurisdiction. It also identified that the majority poor beachwatch ratings are also due to sewer leaks, which are not the responsibility of Sydney Councils.
The Beachwatch program is instrumental in providing the public with accurate and timely information about the safety of our swim sites. The collation of long-term monitoring data into the Annual State of the Beaches reports, also enables the health of our swim sites to be tracked and efforts to improve sewer leaks prioritised.''
The NSW Government’s decision acknowledges the concerns raised by the SCCG and its member Councils. However, there are still concerns that this backflip is only a temporary reprieve and is urging the NSW Government to rule out future cost-shifting of this vital long term monitoring program for Sydney.'' SCCG said
Background
Recreational water quality has been monitored in the Sydney region since 1989 by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s Beachwatch program and since 2022 by Blue Mountains City Council under the Beachwatch Partnership Program.
Monitoring of estuarine beaches commenced in 1994, with the addition of Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay and lower Georges River to the program. Pittwater Council estuarine areas were added in 1996 and most sites in Port Hacking were added in 1999.
In December 2023 the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) unexpectedly advised NSW councils who wish to continue participating in the Beachwatch program they would be required to provide funding for it from July 1st 2024.
In order to continue to participate in the program, Council would have needed to:
a) sign on to the program as a “partner”, and
b) nominate whether it will provide its own collection and analysis of water quality samples, or engage the NSW Government to undertake some or all of this work.
Many regional councils have been funding their own sampling and analysis for many years, however unlike Sydney councils, they typically operate their own water and sewer services and undertake testing to ensure the services they provide are not impacting on downstream waters.
At the March 2024 NBC Council Meeting it was stated in the Executive Summary of this proposal;
''It is considered that Council has no obligation to provide this service, and given the lack of engagement and the significant and imminent financial impact of this cost-shifting exercise, it is proposed that Council not sign up to the program.''
Council is required to advise DCCEEW of its decision by 30 April 2024.''
On March 5, 2024 the Sydney Coastal Councils Group (SCCG), representing nine coastal and estuarine councils in Sydney, released a statement to the effect that Sydney coastal councils reject NSW Government’s attempts to shift costs for NSW Beachwatch to local government.
'The NSW Government is attempting to shift the costs of its successful and long-running NSW Beachwatch program to coastal councils in Sydney. The NSW Beachwatch program helps people make informed decisions about when and where to swim. ' the statement read
Sydney Coastal Councils Group (SCCG), representing nine coastal and estuarine councils in Sydney, supports the program’s value to not only local residents but to the broader NSW community and international tourists that visit our world-renowned beaches.However, it rejected the NSW Government’s attempts to shift the cost of the program to local councils for what is a state government responsibility.
Generally, Councils have no control over the land or waterways below mean high water where Beachwatch monitoring is conducted. Councils also have no control over sewers which is the primary source of bacteriological contamination of waterways that impact on swimming.
Costs for the service provided by the NSW Government to coastal councils represent a significant financial impost on councils that are already grappling with increasing community expectations, constrained budgets and other forms of state government cost-shifting.
In light of this, the SCCG called on the NSW Government to maintain the NSW Beachwatch program as a fully-funded state program without shifting costs to Sydney coastal councils.
SCCG also called on the Minister for the Environment, in consultation with the Minister for Water, to request Sydney Water, as the provider of sewerage services in Sydney, to take a role in water quality monitoring at Beachwatch sites.
Cr. Miranda Korzy, in her 'From the Council Chamber March 2024' update, reported;
'One example of state government cost shifting is the NSW government’s attempt to convince the council to pick up the tab for Beachwatch, which was unanimously rejected at the March meeting.
The NSW Beachwatch program has operated across Sydney’s beaches, including 39 sites on the Northern Beaches, since 1989, monitoring water quality and informing the public about the results. However, last December, the department responsible (NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water known as DCCEEW), unexpectedly announced it would no longer cover the cost of the program and Sydney councils would have to pay if they want to continue with it.
The government offered NBC two options: either council collects water samples and sends them to DCCEEW for analysis at a cost of $198,800; or council engages DCCEEW to continue collecting and analysing samples at $129,383.
Background to the council report noted that regional councils have funded their own sampling and analysis for many years, however they are also typically providers of water and sewer services - unlike NBC and other Sydney coastal councils.
However, the Northern Beaches is not alone with this offer and a group known as the Sydney Coastal Councils Group (SCCG), to which NBC belongs, is leading opposition to this latest attempt at cost shifting to councils. As the NBC councillor rep on the SCCG executive committee, I outlined at the March meeting the work the group has already carried out on this issue.
After being advised about the government’s decision in December, the SCCG obtained legal advice that indicates Councils do not have responsibility for water quality below the mean high water mark. It then informed councils, also pointing out that Sydney Water, which is a major polluter, had not been asked to contribute to the cost of Beachwatch. Then at its March Executive meeting, it approved letters to the Environment and Water ministers opposing the new payment scheme.
As a result, Council staff recommended that we express our support for continuation of the Beachwatch program but object to the payment scheme and support the SCCG in its advocacy on the issue.
Some residents had expressed concern to me that without the council participating in the Beachwatch scheme, we would be left without current information about water quality at local beaches. However, I asked at the meeting if our historical Beachwatch data could be used to inform residents and visitors about likely water quality under any given conditions, and staff agreed it could be.
Furthermore, I argued we simply don’t have any spare money to pay nearly $200,000 towards the analysis. So I told council I thought we should stand with the SCCG and other coastal councils to send a clear message to the state government. I was pleased that all councillors agreed to this approach.'
Then, on May 4 2024, the NSW Government announced it ''is giving Sydney coastal councils an additional 12 months’ consultation before the implementation of the Universal Beachwatch Partnership Program which provides information on water quality at our beaches and waterways.''
Under a media release titled ''Beachwatch consultation reinstated'' the government stated:
'In July 2022, the former government decided to expand the cost sharing partnership model which has been in place across regional New South Wales since 2002, to include 14 Sydney coastal councils which currently do not pay for water quality sampling and laboratory analysis.
Under the current Beachwatch program, Sydney coastal councils do not share the costs with the NSW Government, but regional councils do. The proposed changes were designed to make the system equitable and manage growth of the Universal Beachwatch Partnership Program to more areas.
Consultation was supposed to start in late 2022 to give councils 18 months’ notice before the decision came into effect in July 2024. However, the consultation was deferred until December 2023. Sydney coastal councils have provided feedback on several issues regarding the proposed changes, including that 6 months' consultation is not sufficient for them to plan for and consider the transition.
The NSW Government has listened to this feedback from councils, and is reinstating the 18-month consultation period, which will now run through to June 2025.
This will allow for further consultation on changes to the funding model and design of the program.
Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe is writing to the 14 affected coastal councils to inform them the proposed changes will not go ahead until mid-2025, following further work on the program design.
The 14 Sydney coastal councils are Bayside, Canada Bay, Georges River, Hunters Hill, Inner West, Lane Cove, Mosman, North Sydney, Northern Beaches, Randwick, Sutherland, Waverley, Willoughby and Woollahra.'
Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe, stated then:
'Beachwatch is an important program for those who visit our beaches and waterways, and for councils that work with Beachwatch to detect and respond to emerging pollution problems.
'The NSW Government is committed to ensuring an equitable service and good program design for all councils across the state.
'We are dedicated to genuine partnerships with councils, and look forward to working with them to ensure Beachwatch can give the community confidence to swim in more waterways across New South Wales.'
Background information provided was:
- Beachwatch provides daily advice on swim site suitability for people to choose if and when to swim.
- In response to pollution from Sydney’s ocean-wastewater outfalls, in 1989, Beachwatch commenced providing water quality monitoring at no cost to Sydney coastal councils.
- At present, Beachwatch monitors 97 swim sites within 14 local government areas in the Sydney coastal area at no cost.
- Since 2002, regional councils and wastewater managers have participated in the Beachwatch Partnership Program. Currently there are 10 regional NSW councils and two wastewater managers (Hunter and Sydney Water Corporations) who have funded their own sampling and analysis across 128 swim sites.
- The 2022–23 budget provided $18.5 million over 10 years to deliver the Universal Beachwatch Partnership Program statewide and support all NSW councils to be able to opt in from July 2024.
- Under this model, the Universal Beachwatch Partnership Program will provide a centralised coordination, data management, technical support, quality control, audit, and reporting services, while local council partners provide water quality sampling and analysis for priority swim sites in their local government areas.
The 'State of the Beaches 2023-2024' report summarised the performance of 101 swimming sites in the Sydney region, providing a long-term assessment of how suitable a site is for swimming.
These reports are usually released in October each year, as the weather heats up and people head to their favourite local swimming spot or beach.
