Sydney metropolitan area harbour swimming sites
For individual site information download Sydney Harbour (09634bwar09ch4sydhbr.pdf, 1857kb)
Summary
Forty-one of the 59 harbour swimming sites complied 100% with Beachwatch criteria for faecal coliforms and enterococci during the 2008–2009 summer season (Figure 20 and Figure 21). These results are among the best ever recorded, just behind summer 2006–2007, when 43 harbour beaches complied 100%, and summer 2005–2006, when 51 harbour beaches complied 100%.
Results for summer 2008–2009 were a vast improvement on summer 2007–2008, when extreme wet weather conditions resulted in only ten harbour swimming sites complying 100%.
With a return to average rainfall in summer 2008–2009, improvements in water quality were recorded at 47 swimming sites. Compliance increased for one or both indicators at:
Decreases in water quality over the 2008–2009 summer season were recorded at six swimming sites. Compliance decreased for one or both indicators at:
Cleanest harbour swimming sites
Harbour swimming sites that complied 100% of the time with both bacterial indicators during summer 2008–2009 were:
- Pittwater – Barrenjoey Beach, Paradise Beach Baths, Clareville Beach, Salt Pan Cove Baths, Winji Jimmi Bay, North Scotland Island, South Scotland Island, Elvina Bay, The Basin and Great Mackerel Beach.
Sydney Harbour – Little Sirius Cove, Clifton Gardens, Rose Bay Beach, Nielsen Park, Parsley Bay, Watsons Bay, Forty Baskets Pool, Fairlight Beach, Manly Cove, Little Manly Cove, Gurney Crescent Baths, Northbridge Baths, Clontarf Pool, Chinamans Beach, Edwards Beach, Balmoral Baths, Tambourine Bay, Woodford Bay, Woolwich Baths, Cabarita Beach, Henley Baths, Chiswick Baths, Dawn Fraser Pool and Greenwich Baths.
- Lower Georges River – Dolls Point Baths
- Botany Bay – Monterey Baths, Congwong Bay and Silver Beach.
Port Hacking – Gunnamatta Bay Baths, Lilli Pilli Baths and Jibbon Beach.
Pittwater
Faecal coliform compliance
All 11 Pittwater swimming sites complied 100% with Beachwatch criteria for faecal coliforms for summer 2008–2009 (Figure21). These results are similar to those recorded in the previous summer season.
Enterococci compliance
Ten of the 11 Pittwater swimming sites recorded 100% compliance with Beachwatch enterococci criteria during summer 2008–2009. A high level of compliance was also recorded at Bayview Baths (88%), although this result was lower than the previous season.
Significant improvements in enterococci compliance from the previous season were recorded at Salt Pan Cove Baths (19 percentage points), Winji Jimmi Bay (19 percentage points), and both South Scotland Island and Elvina Bay (13 percentage points).
Port Jackson
Faecal coliform compliance
Six of the eight swimming sites monitored in Port Jackson recorded 100% compliance with Beachwatch criteria for faecal coliforms (Figure20).
Faecal coliform compliance improved at Little Sirius Cove by 16 percentage points from the previous summer, while compliance fell at Redleaf Pool (by nine percentage points to 81%) and at Hayes Street Beach (by 23 percentage points to 61%). Water quality at Hayes Street Beach was affected by a number of dry weather sewage overflows that occurred between February and April 2009.
Enterococci compliance
Six of the eight Port Jackson swimming sites recorded 100% compliance with Beachwatch criteria for enterococci (Figure20). High compliance was also recorded at Redleaf Pool (97%). These results are a substantial improvement from the previous summer season when heavy rainfall resulted in only one site complying 100% of the time.
Improvements in enterococci compliance were recorded at Little Sirius Cove (39 percentage points), Rose Bay Beach and Watsons Bay (16 percentage points), Redleaf Pool (ten percentage points) and Clifton Gardens and Parsley Bay (six percentage points) from the previous summer season.
Enterococci compliance at Hayes Street Beach fell by three percentage points from the previous summer season.
North Harbour
Faecal coliform compliance
All four North Harbour swimming sites recorded 100% compliance with the faecal coliform criteria (Figure20).
Improvements in faecal coliform compliance were recorded for Forty Baskets Pool and Little Manly Cove, with both sites increasing six percentage points from the previous summer season.
Enterococci compliance
All four North Harbour swimming sites recorded 100% compliance with enterococci guidelines during summer 2008–2009.
Little Manly Cove improved by 16 percentage points and both Forty Baskets Pool and Manly Cove improved by six percentage points from the previous summer.
Middle Harbour
Faecal coliform compliance
During summer 2008–2009, six of the eight swimming sites in Middle Harbour recorded faecal coliform compliance of 100%. High faecal coliform compliance was also recorded at Davidson Reserve (97%) and Sangrado Baths (97%) (Figure20).
Faecal coliform compliance increased substantially from the previous summer season at five locations: Sangrado Baths (42 percentage points), Clontarf Pool (29 percentage points), Davidson Reserve (23 percentage points), Northbridge Baths (19 percentage points) and Gurney Crescent Baths (16 percentage points).
Enterococci compliance
Seven of the eight swimming sites in Middle Harbour recorded enterococci compliance of 100% during summer 2008–2009. High faecal coliform compliance was also recorded at Davidson Reserve (97%).
Enterococci compliance improved across all Middle Harbour sites in summer 2008–2009 from the previous summer season. Enterococci compliance increased at Sangrado Baths (58 percentage points), Davidson Reserve (45 percentage points), Gurney Crescent Baths (32 percentage points), Clontarf Pool (29 percentage points), Northbridge Baths (26 percentage points), Balmoral Baths (ten percentage points) and Chinamans and Edwards beaches (six percentage points).
Lower Lane Cove River
Faecal coliform compliance
All three lower Lane Cove River swimming sites recorded 100% compliance with Beachwatch criteria for faecal coliforms during summer 2008–2009 (Figure20).
Tambourine Bay faecal coliform compliance improved by 26 percentage points, Woolwich Baths improved by 23 percentage points and Woodford Bay improved by three percentage points from the previous summer season.
Enterococci compliance
All three lower Lane Cove River swimming sites recorded 100% compliance with Beachwatch criteria for enterococci during summer 2008–2009 (Figure 20).
Tambourine Bay, Woodford Bay and Woolwich Baths improved by 39, 23 and 29 percentage points respectively from the previous summer season’s enterococci compliance results.
Lower Parramatta River
Faecal coliform compliance
All five lower Parramatta River swimming sites recorded 100% compliance with faecal coliform criteria during summer 2008–2009 (Figure20). These results are a substantial improvement from the previous summer season’s when no site complied 100% of the time.
Cabarita Beach, Henley Baths, Dawn Fraser Pool and Greenwich Baths all improved by 13 percentage points from summer 2007–2008. Chiswick Baths improved by ten percentage points from the previous summer season.
Enterococci compliance
All five lower Parramatta River swimming sites recorded 100% compliance with enterococci criteria during summer 2008–2009 (Figure20).
Enterococci compliance improved across all lower Parramatta River sites in summer 2008–2009 from the previous summer season. Enterococci compliance increased at Cabarita Beach (32 percentage points), Henley and Chiswick Baths (23 percentage points), Dawn Fraser Pool (19 percentage points) and Greenwich Baths (16 percentage points).
Lower Georges River
Faecal coliform compliance
Two of the six lower Georges River swimming sites recorded 100% compliance with Beachwatch criteria for faecal coliforms during summer 2008–2009 (Figure21). High compliance was also recorded at Como Baths (97%), Oatley Bay Baths (94%), Sandringham Baths (94%) and Jew Fish Bay Baths (91%).
Improvements in faecal coliform compliance from the previous summer season were recorded across all sites in the lower Georges River. Faecal coliform compliance increased at Carss Point Baths (22 percentage points), Dolls Point Baths (12 percentage points), Como Baths (nine percentage points), Oatley Bay Baths and Sandringham Baths (six percentage points) and Jew Fish Bay Baths (three percentage points) from the previous summer season.
Enterococci compliance
Dolls Point Baths in the lower Georges River recorded 100% compliance with Beachwatch criteria for enterococci during summer 2008–2009, an improvement of nine percentage points from the previous summer season (Figure21). Good compliance was also recorded at Sandringham Baths (94%).
Carss Point Baths improved by 29 percentage points from the previous summer season to reach 88% compliance. Como Baths remained at 84% compliance, the same as in the previous season.
Although a fall in compliance (three percentage points) was recorded at Jew Fish Bay Baths, the site still complied well (84%) with enterococci criteria. Lowest compliance (69%) was recorded at Oatley Bay Baths, a fall of three percentage points from the previous summer season.
Botany Bay
Faecal coliform compliance
Five of the nine Botany Bay swimming sites recorded 100% compliance with Beachwatch faecal coliform criteria (Figure21). The exceptions were Brighton-le-Sands, Kyeemagh Baths and Frenchmans Bay which also recorded high compliances of 97%, 97% and 91% respectively.
Improvements in faecal coliform compliance were recorded at six sites in Botany Bay. These were Frenchmans Bay (19 percentage points), Kyeemagh Baths and Ramsgate Baths (13 percentage points each), Monterey Baths and Silver Beach (12 percentage points each) and Brighton-le-Sands (nine percentage points).
Access to Foreshores Beach was limited during summer 2008–2009 owing to construction works at the site. As a consequence compliance with faecal coliform criteria could not be calculated because an insufficient number of samples was collected within the required period.
Enterococci compliance
Four of the nine Botany Bay swimming sites recorded 100% compliance with Beachwatch enterococci criteria (Figure21). High compliance was also recorded at Ramsgate Baths (94%) and Brighton-le-Sands (97%), a decline of six and three percentage points respectively from the previous summer season.
Enterococci compliance improved by nine percentage points at Yarra Bay to 75%, and by 22 percentage points at Frenchmans Bay to 78%, from the previous summer season.
Access to Foreshores Beach was limited during summer 2008–2009 due to construction works at the site. As a consequence compliance with enterococci criteria could not be calculated because an insufficient number of samples was collected within the required period.
Port Hacking
Faecal coliform compliance
All five Port Hacking swimming sites recorded 100% compliance with Beachwatch faecal coliform criteria during summer 2008–2009 (Figure21).
Improvements in faecal coliform compliance were recorded at four sites in Port Hacking. These were Gymea Bay Baths (25 percentage points), Gunnamatta Bay Baths (19 percentage points), Lilli Pilli Bay Baths (12 percentage points each) and Horden Beach (nine percentage points).
Enterococci compliance
Three of five swimming sites in Port Hacking recorded 100% compliance with enterococci criteria during summer 2008–2009. Gymea Bay Baths and Horden Beach also recorded good compliance with 94% and 97% respectively.
Improvements in enterococci compliance were recorded at three sites in Port Hacking. These were Gymea Bay Baths, up by 28 percentage points, and Gunnamatta Bay Baths and Hordens Beach, both with an increase of six percentage points.
Plans for improvement
Sewage overflows – SewerFix
Sydney Water is required by DECCW Environment Protection Licence conditions to manage sewerage treatment systems efficiently, in order to protect and minimise harm to the environment and public health. The licences aim to minimise the frequency and volume of overflows and sewage treatment plant bypasses by identifying limits and targets for sewage overflows as well as measures to require further overflow abatement.
Details on SewerFix, Sydney Water’s 20-year program for maintaining and improving the sewer system, are presented in Chapter 2.
Stormwater
From 2006 to 2008 the Environmental Trust provided over $19.8 million for 26 projects to improve the condition of degraded urban waterways through rehabilitation and restoration activities. Grant funding was made available by the NSW Government’s Environmental Trust Urban Sustainability Program, through the Urban Sustainability Major Projects and Urban Waterways Initiative. Grant funding is targeted at local councils working with the community and business to protect and improve the urban environment. Priority catchment areas for the Urban Waterways funding stream include the Cooks River, Georges River and Sydney Harbour.
The projects implemented include initiatives such as stormwater reuse schemes, water-sensitive urban design, and activities to restore streams and creeks in various local government areas, thus improving local water quality and overall catchment health. These projects have also included the implementation of education and engagement programs to maintain the health of urban catchments.
The NSW Government’s Urban Stormwater Program was established in 1997 and concluded in 2006. A total of $82 million in seed funding was provided to address stormwater quality hotpots and to give the stormwater industry and stormwater managers opportunity to develop new ways of addressing poor stormwater quality and ameliorating its impact on receiving waters.
The major outcomes of the NSW Government’s Urban Sustainability Program, Diffuse Source Water Pollution Strategy and Urban Stormwater Program, together with details of Sydney Water’s investment in stormwater improvement are presented in Chapter 2.
Figure 20: Compliance of Harbourwatch Sites during Summer 2008–2009:
Sydney Harbour
Figure 21: Compliance of Harbourwatch Sites during Summer 2008–2009:
Pittwater, Lower Georges River, Botany Bay and Port Hacking
Page last updated: 26 February 2011
