Council will undertake a new Review of Environmental Factors (REF) and fresh community engagement to assess potential adjustments to the current dog access arrangements at Narrawallee Beach.
The decision made at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 12 August 2025 responds to strong community interest in the issue. Council is committed to ensuring future decisions are informed by clear evidence, external expertise and meaningful community input.
Mayor Patricia White said Council had appointed engagement specialists, Becscomm to lead the community engagement program and environmental specialists, Biosis to prepare the new REF.
The REF is a formal environmental assessment required under NSW law and will assess proposed changes to dog access at Narrawallee Beach.
"Narrawallee Beach is one of our most loved coastal spaces, and Council's responsibility is to balance environmental protection, community amenity and recreational use," Cr White said.
"This new REF and consultation program will help ensure we fully understand the environmental and social considerations before any adjustments are made to the current arrangements," she said.
"Council is committed to ensuring a fair and equitable engagement and REF process and I encourage all community members to get involved in the upcoming questionnaire and engagement sessions."
The new REF will assess the environmental, social and recreational impacts of the current arrangements, including two proposed adjustments:
- Settings for off-leash access to the middle section of the beach.
- On-leash access via Victor Avenue and Surfers Avenue steps.
Opportunities for the community to provide feedback
Becscomm will deliver a staged and transparent engagement program. Community members will be able to participate at three key stages:
1. Online questionnaire – February 2026.
2. Community and stakeholder engagement sessions – February to March 2026.
3. Public exhibition of the draft REF – March to April 2026.
After the public exhibition period, Council will receive an engagement outcomes report from Bescomm, and the final REF prepared by Biosis.
Councillors will then consider the environmental assessment, community engagement outcomes and all legislative requirements before determining future dog access arrangements.
All project information, including FAQs, the project timeline and a link to the questionnaire, will be available on the Council project webpage:
Key dates
- December 2025: Project information published
- February to March 2026: Questionnaire, stakeholder meetings and community sessions
- March to April 2026: Draft REF exhibition
- April 2026: Council decision.
