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Coastal Management

Wollongong's iconic coastline includes beaches, dunes, cliffs, headlands, rock platforms, coastal creeks and estuaries.

We're preparing a Coastal Management Program (CMP) to guide how we sustainably manage these valuable areas over the long-term for current and future generations. The CMP will focus on achieving the objectives of the Coastal Management Act 2016.

Visit the Let's Talk Wollongong website to learn more about the CMP, read supporting information and find opportunities to get involved in this process.

Until the new CMP is in place, we will continue to use our current Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), which was adopted before the Coastal Management Act 2016 was in force. We also have a Dune Management Strategy, which supports the CZMP. You can read our current coastal plans and strategies at the bottom of this page.

Use our online map to see the Coastal Hazard Information associated with the CZMP for Lake Illawarra, and the Coastal Hazard Study 2026 for the rest of the coastal zone of the Wollongong City Council area. Please note, when you open the Coastal Hazard Information map, it will default to the future-most timeframe that has been mapped (eg 2125 in the Coastal Hazards Study 2026).  You can use the Layers section in the online map to see other available timeframes.

Coastal processes and hazards

Wollongong’s coast and estuaries are shaped by a complex mix of natural process and human activities. Storms, tides and waves constantly change the coastline, and we expect climate change and human actions to add to these challenges over time.

Coastal hazards

Coastal hazards are natural processes that can expose coastal areas to a range of risks. This can include property damage, public safety concerns, and damage to the coastal environment.

As part of our work to prepare a CMP, we've assessed coastal hazards from the Royal National Park to Windang. Understanding these hazards and how they change over time helps us identify areas at risk, shape long-term strategies and work with the community to protect our valuable coastline and make it more resilient.

You can read about our coastal hazards studies on the Let's Talk Wollongong website.

Types of coastal hazards that affect Wollongong are described below.

Beach erosion happens when tides, waves, and wind move sand away from beaches and dunes, especially during storms or high tides. This can create steep, unstable erosion scarps and expose hidden objects. It can also damage dune vegetation, infrastructure, and nearby properties.

Sand often returns during calmer conditions, but if the sand on the beach does not fully replenish, the shoreline can gradually move inland. This is called shoreline recession.

Erosion and shoreline recession are expected to get worse as sea levels rise. This will put more foreshore areas at risk.

Most estuaries and coastal lakes along the Wollongong coastline naturally open and close to the ocean depending on both rainfall and wave conditions. Over time, the entrance point where these watercourses meet the ocean can shift and become unstable due to tides, waves and catchment runoff. These changes can affect nearby infrastructure, dunes and recreational beach use.

In some locations, structures like training walls or breakwaters have been put in place which alter natural entrance dynamics. This impacts sediment movement and estuary conditions.

Entrance of Fairy Creek at Puckey's Reserve North Wollongong

Tidal inundation is when low-lying coastal and estuary areas flood during high tides, even under normal weather conditions. It can cause water to backflow into urban drainage systems, increasing flood risks.

Coastal inundation is temporary flooding caused by storm surges that push ocean water higher than normal. This can lead to water overtopping dunes and seawalls, and flooding low-lying land, affecting homes, roads, and natural habitats.

Both types of inundation are expected to become more frequent and widespread due to climate change and rising sea levels.

East Corrimal street flooded due to inundation

Erosion and weather can cause rocky headlands or bluffs to become unstable, weaken and collapse. This can lead to falling rocks and land slips, putting nearby properties and infrastructure at risk.

Geological conditions, wave action, rainfall, and surface runoff can all contribute to instability.

Rocky headland at Austinmer

Catchment floodwaters can combine with coastal flooding from storms or tides, leading to collapsed estuary banks and increased risk of urban flooding.

This often happens when severe weather events, like east coast lows and large offshore swells, bring strong winds, heavy rain and powerful waves.

Sea level rise

Sea level rise is the gradual increase in the height of the world's oceans.  It's mostly driven by climate change caused by human actions such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. These actions release gases that trap heat, which leads to the melting of glaciers and polar ice sheets, and thermal expansion where warmer water takes up more space.

New South Wales tide records for Fort Denison and Port Kembla show that sea levels have risen at a higher rate this century, with increases of between 4.0 and 4.5mm each year between 2005 and 2023.

In the Wollongong area, sea level rise will contribute to more coastal erosion, flooding and inundation which threatens infrastructure and raises concerns for future generations.

Predicting sea level rise is complex because it is influenced by many factors: weather patterns, ocean currents, land movement, global emission trends, and natural cycles like El Niño and La Niña. To assess coastal hazards, Wollongong City Council uses projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). We specifically use the SSP5-8.5 scenario, which includes a range of possible outcomes to account for uncertainty.

Importantly, sea level rise is largely irreversible over centuries due to emissions that have already been released. This means it's essential that we have accurate modelling to help us with long-term planning .

Dunes

Dunes are an essential part of our coastal environment. They are the basis of an important ecosystem that has environmental, social and cultural value.

Dunes provide a reserve supply of sand for protection against storm events. During coastal storms, a process known as storm bite occurs, where waves remove a portion of sand from the dune system.

Healthy dunes with enough sand reserves can absorb this storm bite, acting as a natural 'sea wall' to dissipate wave energy. However, if dunes don't have enough sand, storms can cause beach erosion and expose properties and facilities near beaches to inundation, structural damage or sand drift.

Dune vegetation can help to protect sand reserves and provide essential habitat for local fauna and flora.

Become a Dunecare volunteer

Council's Dunecare program works to care for and protect beach dunes across our city. Visit our Dunecare page to learn more or become a volunteer.

Current plans and strategies