Coogee beach among Sydney swimming spots ranked most polluted with faecal matter | Sydney

Manly’s Coogee beach and Shelly beach are among Sydney’s most contaminated swimming areas with faeces, according to a government report.

About 21% of 249 swimming areas across NSW were rated “poor” or “very poor” in the 2024-25 State of NSW Beaches report, part of an annual survey by the NSW environment department.

As scorching heat spread along the east coast on Wednesday, the NSW government was advising people to check out. water quality monitor Rain can cause sudden changes in pollution levels.

The government described the report of microbial water quality measurements at 31 new facilities as an improvement over last year. According to the results announced on Wednesday, the water quality of at least 23 beaches improved, while the high scores of 179 beaches remained between “good” and “very good”.

Of the 98 properties in Sydney, 20 received one of the lowest two ratings across five grades from “very good” to “very poor”. Ratings range from microbial water quality with “little potential source of fecal contamination” to “high likelihood of contamination” that poses a serious risk to public health.

The government advises that swimming in “very poor” areas should always be avoided, while “poor” areas are often unsuitable, especially after rain.

Foreshores beach next to Sydney airport and Gymea Bay baths in Port Hacking were the only two places in Sydney rated “very poor”, along with Yosemite Creek in the Blue Mountains.

Sydney beaches receiving ‘poor’ ratings include Coogee and Malabar beaches in Randwick LGA, Shelly beach in Manly, Rose Bay beach and Murray Rose pool, which are also unchanged from last year.

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Bronte beach, which received a “bad” rating last year, rose to a “good” rating this year, while Little Bay beach fell to a “bad” rating.

There were 2 beaches in Sydney with the highest “very good” rating. These included South Curl Curl, Avalon, Whale and Palm beaches in the Northern Beaches, Cronulla’s Greenhills, Wanda, Elouera and North Cronulla beaches, Maroubra beach and Nielsen Park.

NSW Climate Change and Energy Minister Penny Sharpe said the report was a “really positive snapshot of our state’s watersheds”.

“As a swimmer myself, I know first-hand how important it is for people to continue checking the Beachwatch website for live updates on water pollution.”

The government’s Beach Watch program recommends staying out of the water when it rains and for up to three days afterwards, or when the weather is “dark and full of debris”.

Mark Taylor, director general of science and insights at the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, said pollution in even “very poor” areas could change from time to time.

“There will be times when Gymea Baths and Foreshores beach will be good.”

Nearly 95% of the 133 ocean beaches monitored in NSW scored ‘good’ to ‘very good’ for water quality. The south coast surf beach was the only ocean beach outside Sydney to receive a “poor” rating.

Estuary, lake, river and lagoon bathing areas are more susceptible to stormwater and sewage treatment runoff after rainfall, Taylor said.

“Use the beach report, think about what you will do on the beach.”

“If you’re just building sand castles, it doesn’t matter if the water isn’t 100% perfect,” he said. “That is if you are touring.”