Coogee beach tops Sydney list as most faecally polluted ocean swim spot

An annual NSW State of the Beaches assessment of 245 swimming locations placed Coogee at the bottom of Sydney’s ocean beaches for faecal pollution, maintaining its “poor” rating from the prior year. The survey found that 43 sites statewide were judged “poor” or “very poor”, yet 97% of ocean beaches achieved “good” or “very good” grades. Water-quality authority Stuart Khan explained that heavy rain drives storm-water runoff, sewage overflows and bird droppings onto the steeply-drained, semi-protected bay, causing contamination that can linger for days.

He noted that deep-sea discharges from the Malabar waste-treatment plant have a negligible impact. Twelve other Sydney sites, mainly estuarine, also received “poor” ratings, while two locations were deemed “very poor”. Environment minister Penny Sharpe emphasized that long-term monitoring by Beachwatch provides reliable data for swimmers.