State of the Beaches 2011-2012
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Central Coast region coliforms since 2004, with enterococci analysis Councils commencing in September 2010. The Central Coast region extends from Lake To ensure that the data collected and reported Macquarie in the north to Broken Bay in the south. under the Beachwatch Partnership Program are Swimming locations are monitored in two local accurate and reliable, quality assurance of council areas (Figure 17): sampling, microbial analysis and reporting is undertaken. The findings of the quality assurance Wyong Shire Council program are described in the quality assurance section of this report. Gosford City Council. 2011–2012 results The programs Of the 43 sites monitored on the Central Coast, 27 Monitoring in the Central Coast region is conducted were graded as Good or Very Good. (Table 17) under the Beachwatch Partnership Program. In 2011–2012, 43 swimming locations were sampled Ocean beaches (Table 16). Wyong Shire and Gosford City councils Seventeen of the 28 ocean beaches were graded fully fund the sample collection and laboratory as Very Good: Frazer Beach, Birdie Beach, analysis, with quality assurance and reporting Budgewoi Beach, Lakes Beach, Hargraves Beach, support provided by OEH. Jenny Dixon Beach, Cabbage Tree Bay, Lighthouse Beach, Gravelly Beach, Soldiers Beach, North Wyong Shire Council has been a part of the Entrance Beach, The Entrance Beach, Blue Bay, Beachwatch Partnership Program since its inception Toowoon Bay, Shelly Beach, Blue Lagoon, Bateau in 2002 (as the Beachwatch Pilot Partnership Bay Beach in the Wyong Shire Council area. These Program). Enterococci samples were collected at 22 sites had consistently good water quality and very sites on a weekly basis during the swimming few potential sources of faecal contamination. season (October to April). Samples were collected between the flags at patrolled beaches and in the Eight ocean beaches were graded as Good: middle of the beach at unpatrolled beaches. Forresters Beach, Wamberal Beach, North Avoca Beach, Avoca Beach, Copacabana Beach, Gosford City Council joined the Beachwatch MacMasters Beach, Killcare Beach and Pearl Partnership Program in 2004. Samples were Beach in the Gosford City Council area. Microbial collected on a weekly basis during the 2011–2012 water quality was suitable for swimming most of the swimming season (October to April) at 21 swimming time but may be susceptible to pollution from locations. Samples have been analysed for faecal several potential sources of faecal contamination. Table 16: Monitoring of Central Coast swimming sites Number of sites Sampling Organisation Ocean Ocean Lagoon/ Freshwater frequency Estuarine Total beaches baths lake river Weekly (October Wyong Shire Council 17 – 1 4 – 22 to April) Weekly (October Gosford City Council 11 1 5 4 – 21 to April) NSW State of the Beaches 2011–2012: Central Coast region Page 133 Figure 17: Councils and sampling locations in the Central Coast region NSW State of the Beaches 2011–2012: Central Coast region Page 134 Three ocean beaches were graded as Poor: The remaining five estuarine locations were graded Terrigal Beach, Umina Beach and Ocean Beach in as Poor (Table 17). These sites often had poor Gosford City Council area. These sites often had water quality (Microbial Assessment Category C or poor water quality and significant sources of D) and significant sources of microbial microbial contamination including discharge from contamination including sewage overflows, Terrigal Lagoon and Brisbane Water. Microbial stormwater and pollution sources from other areas water quality at these sites is generally suitable for of the estuary. Swimming at these sites should be swimming in dry weather conditions but is avoided during and for up to three days following susceptible to faecal contamination following rainfall or if there are signs of stormwater pollution, rainfall. It is recommended that swimming at these such as discoloured water or odour or floating beaches be avoided during and up to three days debris. following rainfall or if there are signs of stormwater such as discoloured water or odour or floating Lagoons debris. One of the eight lagoon sites (Chain Valley Bay) Ocean baths was graded as Good. Enterococci levels at this site were generally suitable for swimming, but water Pearl Beach Rockpool was graded as Poor. The quality may be affected by several potential sources site had several incidents of high microbial levels, of faecal contamination. and may be affected by several potential sources of faecal contamination including bather shedding and Six of the eight lagoon sites were classified as Poor discharge from Green Point Creek. Contaminated (Table 17). These sites often had poor water quality floodwaters from the Hawkesbury River in February (Microbial Assessment Category C or D) and 2012 may also have impacted water quality at this significant sources of microbial contamination site. including sewage overflows and pollution sources from other areas of the lagoon. Swimming at these The cause of the poor water quality at Pearl Beach locations should be avoided during and for up to Rockpool is being further investigated by three days following rainfall or if there are signs of Beachwatch with inspection and testing of Green stormwater contamination, such as discoloured Point Creek to identify the source of contamination. water or odour or floating debris. Water samples taken from the creek and rockpool during dry weather conditions had low levels of Terrigal Lagoon was graded as Very Poor. The bacteria suggesting a wet weather source of faecal microbial water quality was unsuitable for swimming contamination. Until this investigation is complete, it in wet weather and in dry weather up to three days is recommended that swimming in the rockpool be after light rainfall. Swimming should be avoided avoided during and up to one day following rainfall during this time and at times when there are signs and if there are signs of pollution such as of stormwater pollution, such as discoloured water discoloured water or odour or floating debris. or odour or floating debris. A number of potential sources of faecal contamination have been Estuarine identified including urban stormwater, sewage overflows and pollution sources from other areas of One of the six estuarine swimming sites (The the lagoon. Further investigations into the source of Entrance Channel) was graded as Good. faecal contamination in Terrigal Lagoon are Enterococci levels at this site were generally planned. suitable for swimming, but water quality may be affected by several potential sources of faecal contamination. NSW State of the Beaches 2011–2012: Central Coast region Page 135 Table 17: Beach Suitability Grades in the Central Coast region, 2011–2012 Sanitary Microbial Beach Site Site type Inspection Assessment Suitability Category Category Grade Frazer Beach Ocean beach Low Category A Very Good Birdie Beach Ocean beach Low Category A Very Good Budgewoi Beach Ocean beach Low Category A Very Good Lakes Beach Ocean beach Low Category A Very Good Hargraves Beach Ocean beach Low Category A Very Good Jenny Dixon Beach Ocean beach Low Category A Very Good Cabbage Tree Bay Ocean beach Low Category A Very Good Lighthouse Beach Ocean beach Low Category A Very Good Gravelly Beach Ocean beach Low Category A Very Good Soldiers Beach Ocean beach Low Category A Very Good North Entrance Beach Ocean beach Low Category A Very Good The Entrance Beach Ocean beach Low Category A Very Good Blue Bay Ocean beach Low Category A Very Good Toowoon Bay Ocean beach Low Category A Very Good Wyong Shire Council Council Shire Wyong Shelly Beach Ocean beach Low Category A Very Good Blue Lagoon Ocean beach Low Category A Very Good Bateau Bay Beach Ocean beach Low Category A Very Good Gwandalan Lagoon/lake Moderate Category C Poor Chain Valley Bay Lagoon/lake Moderate Category B Good Lake Munmorah Baths Lagoon/lake Moderate Category C Poor Canton Beach Lagoon/lake Moderate Category C Poor The Entrance Channel Estuarine Moderate Category B Good Forresters Beach Ocean beach Low Category B Good Wamberal Beach Ocean beach Moderate Category B Good Wamberal Lagoon Lagoon Moderate Category D Poor Terrigal Beach Ocean beach Moderate Category C Poor Terrigal Lagoon Lagoon High Category D Very Poor North Avoca Beach Ocean beach Low Category B Good Avoca Beach Ocean beach Moderate Category B Good Avoca Lagoon Lagoon Moderate Category D Poor Copacabana Beach Ocean beach Moderate Category B Good Cockrone Lagoon Lagoon Moderate Category D Poor MacMasters Beach Ocean beach Low Category B Good Killcare Beach Ocean beach Low Category B Good Pearl Beach Ocean beach Moderate Category B Good Gosford City Council Council City Gosford Pearl Beach Rockpool Ocean baths Moderate Category D Poor Umina Beach Ocean beach Moderate Category C Poor Ocean Beach Ocean beach Moderate Category C Poor Ettalong Channel Estuarine Moderate Category D Poor Pretty Beach Baths Estuarine Moderate Category D Poor Davistown Baths Estuarine Moderate Category D Poor Woy Woy Baths Estuarine Moderate Category D Poor Yattalunga Baths Estuarine Moderate Category C Poor NSW State of the Beaches 2011–2012: Central Coast region Page 136 Wyong Shire Council Figure 18: Sampling locations and Beach Suitability Grades in the Wyong Shire Council area NSW State of the Beaches 2011–2012: Central Coast region Page 137 swimming season, covering February 2009 until Overview of the area April 2012. Description However, as sampling at Lake Munmorah Baths Wyong Shire Council is located approximately 100 began in 2010, there are fewer than 100 data points kilometres north of Sydney and covers an area of currently available for analysis. The Microbial 827 square kilometres. The Shire extends from Assessment Category at this site is therefore Catherine Hill Bay in the north to Crackneck Point in regarded as provisional. As more data become the south. The estimated local resident population available in following years the beach grade will at the 2011 Census was 149,746 (ABS 2012), become final and response to rainfall trends more showing an average growth rate of 1.4 per cent per defined.