Birubi Point attracts thousands of visitors during the busy summer holiday period, and Council is implementing measures to support a better experience for locals and visitors.
Birubi Point is one of the most culturally significant and beloved locations in Port Stephens. It holds deep cultural, spiritual and historical importance for the Worimi people and is a place locals love, and visitors seek out for its natural beauty and strong connection to Country.
Port Stephens Council General Manager Tim Crosdale said that the "lower car park" at Birubi Point sustained significant damage in the May 2025 natural disaster and will continue to remain closed.
"The lower car park has suffered damage beyond Council's usual maintenance resources. It sits on land that is highly sensitive and naturally unstable, and pressure from more frequent major weather events, repeated rising groundwater and increasing visitation has been impacting this special place," Mr Crosdale said.
"We want visitors to come to Port Stephens and see the beautiful beaches the area has to offer, but car parking opportunities will remain limited through the busy summer period.
"In the past, we've invested in many traffic initiatives at Anna Bay and Birubi Beach, including active traffic control, shuttle bus trials and smart digital signage.
"Our peak season management plan guides our approach, and this holiday period, it will include extra linemarking, additional onsite signage, increased Council Ranger presence, VMS early warning boards, Live Traffic updates and ongoing digital signage to inform car parking availability and restrictions.
"During peak visitation, we also schedule additional cleaning, waste management and install temporary toilets.
Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council CEO Andrew Smith said Birubi Point is not just a beach location, it's a magical place of cultural significance, teaching and ceremony which; still today, people are drawn to, as it has been for thousands of years evidenced by the rich with Worimi occupational stories, artefacts and natural resources.
"Birubi is 'second to none' and this is echoed by the Worimi Conservation Lands vision of 'Protect, Respect, Connect' which highlights our shared custodial responsibility to sit, listen and learn from past actions and work with Country, not against her," Mr Smith said.
Tim Crosdale said Birubi Headland is a very challenging location to manage.
"We'll keep working with the Worimi community, tourism operators and local residents and businesses to support essential access and plan for the future. The cultural value of this site is extraordinary, and the environmental risks can't be ignored," Mr Crosdale added.
Critical to future planning is a review of the Birubi Point Aboriginal Place Plan of Management to balance the protection of cultural heritage with sustainable visitation, ensuring the site remains a place of learning, connection and respect. The community will have the opportunity to provide feedback through an engagement program in early 2026.
"We're fortunate to have Birubi Point Aboriginal Place in our own community, a place of such profound beauty and cultural value. Protecting it is not just the role of Aboriginal custodians or government, it's something we all share as a community," Mr Crosdale concluded.
