Help shape the future of our beach services and surf sports

We’re creating a 20-year Beach Services and Surf Sports Strategy to make sure our beaches and surf sports facilities keep up with the needs of our growing community. Wollongong has 60 kilometres of coastline and 34 beach locations, and this plan will guide how we manage safety, facilities, and activities while balancing costs and community expectations. Beaches are a big part of life here, so we need a clear plan to keep them safe, welcoming, and sustainable for everyone.

We’d like to hear from you about how you use our beaches and surf sports facilities, what improvements you’d like to see, and what should be a priority for the future.

What the strategy will do

• Make beaches welcoming for everyone by supporting programs and facilities that include people of all ages and abilities.
• Check all beach facilities – including surf lifesaving clubs, patrol towers, and amenities – to see what condition they’re in and whether they meet industry standards.
• Plan for future upgrades and improvements so we know which facilities need fixing, replacing, or adding, and how to prioritise resources.
• Work with state and federal plans to make sure our approach fits with broader sport and recreation goals.
• Keep services sustainable by balancing what the community wants with the costs of running and maintaining facilities.

What the strategy covers

• Patrolled beaches such as North Wollongong, Thirroul, Bulli, Port Kembla, and Windang.
• Unpatrolled beaches and coastal locations like Sharkey’s Beach, McCauley’s Beach, and Puckey’s Beach.
• Surf sports and recreation activities, including surf lifesaving clubs, nippers' programs, board rider clubs, learn-to-surf operators, paddle boarding, beach sports, and fitness groups.

How you can find out more and get involved

To find out more, read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

Share your thoughts

Survey
Fill in the online survey.

Write or phone

• Email us at engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au.
• Call us on 4227 7111 to give your feedback to our Engagement Team.
• Writing to the Engagement Team, Wollongong City Council, Locked Bag 8821 WOLLONGONG DC NSW 2500.

Please provide your feedback by Sunday 8 February 2026.

Please note, any submissions become public documents and may be viewed by other persons on request. Please read Council's Privacy Policy before submitting your feedback.

What happens next?

This part of the project is all about learning about our community and how you interact with our beaches. Once we know a bit more about what you like, don't like and what might need improving, we will check if there's any gaps in what we learn. From there we will write the Draft Beach Services and Surf Sports Strategy and then seek your feedback again to make sure we got it right.

Accessibility and language assistance

If you’re d/Deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech or language difficulty, you can contact us through the National Relay Service. If you need an interpreter, you can contact us through the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. You’ll need to provide our phone number 02 4227 7111 for either service.