Looking for something fun to do as the weather heats up? Shellharbour City Council is inviting locals and visitors to join its Coastal Monitoring Program by snapping a photo at one of our CoastSnap stations.
Caption: Warilla South Beach CoastSnap station. Image courtesy of Shellharbour City Council.
The Coastal Monitoring Program includes CoastSnap citizen science stations and BeachStat cameras, which will be continuing until June 2026 thanks to extended funding through the NSW Government's Coastal and Estuary Grants Program.
The program empowers locals and visitors to help monitor coastal changes by contributing photos at CoastSnap stations located at Gadhu Beach (Shell Cove Southern Breakwall), Warilla South Beach, Windang Island and Shellharbour North Beach. These images, combined with BeachStat timelapse data, provide valuable insights into shoreline movement, erosion and coastal resilience.
Since its launch in 2022, hundreds of images and timelapse sequences have been collected, helping inform better coastal management and planning. Community involvement has been key to building a long-term understanding of Shellharbour's coastline.
Mayor Chris Homer said the program is a great example of community science in action.
"Summer is the perfect time to hit the beach, soak up the sun and snap a photo at a CoastSnap station," he said.
"Every photo helps us understand how our coastline changes over time. It's a simple way to enjoy the outdoors and make a real difference for our beaches. So grab your sunnies, take a snap and be part of the science"
To learn more or find your nearest CoastSnap station, visit: Monitoring our Coastlines | Shellharbour Council.
This project is supported by technical and funding assistance from the NSW Government's Coastal and Estuary Grants Program.
KEY MESSAGES:
- Shellharbour's Coastal Monitoring Program invites the community to participate in coastal science through CoastSnap photo contributions.
- Community involvement helps build a long-term understanding of coastal changes, risks and vulnerabilities, supporting better management of Shellharbour's coastline.
- CoastSnap stations offer a simple way for locals and visitors to contribute to scientific research while staying connected to their environment.
