The recently released report rated all Central Coast beaches as Good or Very Good – an improvement on the 2022/2023 report. The annual report gives a grading for each designated swim site from Very Good to Poor and is an indicator of suitability for swimming. It is linked to the statewide Beachwatch Program, which monitors beaches and other swimming sites to ensure that they are safe for recreational swimming.
Water quality can sometimes be affected by microbes and other pollution, especially after periods of heavy rainfall. Pollution from stormwater and sewage overflows can cause higher levels of bacterial contamination that makes water quality unsuitable for swimming. Beachwatch data, along with other variables such as rainfall, is used in predictive models to forecast beach water quality on a daily basis.
This enables the community to be able to make an informed decision on whether to swim on any given day. Central Coast Council monitors 32 recreational sites across the coast – 15 ocean beaches, three ocean baths, four coastal lagoons and 10 estuary sites. Council Director Environment and Planning Jamie Loader said the 2023/2024 ratings for the Coast’s beaches was pleasing.
“It is really a great result that Terrigal Beach has improved to Good after three years of a Poor rating,” he said. “Council has done a significant amount of work in the Terrigal Catchment since 2019 including the relining and upgrading of over 32km of sewer pipes and smoke and dye testing t.