North Harbour

Manly Council has prepared a Coastline Management Plan (CMP) for the North Harbour area following the process outlined in the NSW Coastline Management Manual (1990).  The North Harbour study area (map) extends both seaward and landward from the shoreline between Federation Point and Welling Reserve.  Included in the study area are rocky intertidal platforms, sandy beaches, grassed reserves, a swimming pool, sandstone cliffs, bushland, recreational, commercial, and residential areas. 

pdf format Process study: Elements of the Coastline Management System (12.50 KB)

pdf format Map of study area (11.39 MB)

Following the planning process, a Coastline Hazard Definition Study for the area was completed in April 2004. 

To actively involve the community in the preparation of the CMP, structured survey forms were distributed to obtain community responses on key issues and specific suggestions for inclusion in the CMP. A total of 167 survey forms were returned.

Three separate consultation meetings were held between February 2006 and March 2007.

From surveys completed to date, the five popular activities for users of the North Harbour area include walking/jogging (86.2%), swimming (70.4%), passive recreation (66.4%), picnic/BBQ (57.9%) and dog walking (41.4%).   

The five most frequent responses to issues included: 

  • Protection of aquatic environment (86.2%);
  • Protection & enhancing bushland including wildlife corridors (85.5%);
  • Protection & enhancing the visual & aesthetic values of the area (84.2%);
  • Protection of threatened species (82.2%); and
  • Maintenance of facilities (75.7%).       

Key Management Issues

A list of management issues was identified mainly from filled in survey forms. Further, specific local issues were derived during three community consultation field days. 

The issues are summarised under six key broad based management issues, as given below, and have been followed throughout this report: 

  • Aquatic/Inter-tidal Habitat Conservation & Management.
  • Bushland/Terrestrial Habitat Conservation & Management.
  • Upgrading & enhancement of public facilities.
  • North Harbour Reserve Improvement.
  • Hazards& climate change. 
  • Heritage Conservation & Management.

Managing Key Issues

Community’s perceptions of managing key issues can be viewed by clicking on the following link: 

pdf format Community consultations (374.97 KB)

These perceptions will form the basis for management options/actions to be proposed in the Coastline Management Plan. 

North Harbour Coastline Management Study  

The North Harbour Coastline Management Study, endorsed by Council at its Planning & Strategy Committee meeting on 2 March 2009, is a baseline document describing land use, significance of the area, institutional and policy environment, coastal processes, coastal hazards, climate change, ecological environment, socio-economic environment, community consultations and indicative management options. The Study was used to prepare the North Harbour CMP, which was publicly exhibited for comments. 

pdf format North Harbour Coastline Management Study - Final Report (5.19 MB)

North Harbour Coastline Management Plan 

North Harbour Coastline Management Plan  is endorsed by Council at its Planning & Strategy Committee meeting on 1 March 2010. The Plan sets six goals and 21 objectives to be addressed through 48 management options. Thirty of these are new activities. Management options relate to aquatic/intertidal and bushland habitat conservation and management; upgrading and enhancement of public facilities; North Harbour Reserve improvement; hazards and climate change and heritage conservation and management. 

(updated 18 March 2010) 

pdf format North Harbour Coastal Management Plan - endorsed March 2010 (4.80 MB)