• water management
  
  • Water overview
  • Legislation and policies
  • Water data online
  • Water access and trade
  • Water sharing plans
  • Water for the environment
  • Water quality
  • Water Compliance
  • Across the State
• vegetation
  
  
  • Vegetation overview
  • Native vegetation in NSW
  • Plantations
  • Private Native Forestry
  • Vegetation Compliance
• soils
  
  
  • Soils overview
  • Soils in NSW
  • Soils data online
  • Soil survey
  • Maps for land managers
  • Soil Conservation Schemes
  • Acid sulfate soil
  • Salinity
• wetlands, coast and floodplains
  
  • Coast and floodplains overview
  • The coast
  • Estuaries
  • Floodplains
  • Wetlands

• NSW Coastal Management Program

• Site search:

Home > Coast and floodplains > The coast >

The NSW Coastline

The NSW coastline is one of our state's greatest assets. Beautiful beaches, dunes, estuaries, lakes, lagoons and wetlands attract tourists, support various industries and provide recreation for everyone.

However, our coastline is under constant attack from natural forces, and is therefore dynamic and ever–changing. Beaches erode in response to storms, sand dunes migrate inland in response to strong winds, and many sections of the coast are receding due to long-term coastal processes. Climate change is only likely to exacerbate these effects in the future.

Meanwhile human activity is causing a host of further problems along the coast. Around 80 per cent of the NSW population lives on the state's coast, with rapid growth projected for the future, generating constant pressure for development.

Coastal processes and their long-term impact on our coastline have only been studied in-depth over the past two decades. As a result there is much existing development along our coast which is under threat from natural processes.

DNR's role is to work closely with local councils and community groups to maintain, protect and improve our state's vast coastline, both now and into the future. The department administers the Coastal Management Program, working with local bodies to reduce the impacts of coastal processes and improve the amenity of our beaches. The program is based on the NSW Government's Coastline Hazard Policy.