About the CMP
To address current and emerging threats and protect the harbour’s environmental, social and economic values, the Sydney Coastal Councils Group (SCCG) is leading the preparation of the Outer Sydney Harbour CMP.
This program is being developed in close partnership with participating local councils and relevant NSW Government agencies. Working together, the SCCG and its project partners seek community input to help guide a coordinated, long-term approach to managing coastal hazards, enhancing ecological health and improving public amenity, ensuring the harbour remains a vibrant and resilient asset for generations to come.
Study Area
Sydney Harbour can be divided into the inner harbour comprising Parramatta River and Lane Cove River to the west, and the outer harbour extending eastwards from the confluence of the Parramatta River and Lane Cove River to encompass Port Jackson, Middle Harbour and North Harbour. The study area for the Outer Sydney Harbour CMP encompasses the coastal use area and areas that drain to the harbour within the local government areas (LGAs) of City of Sydney, Ku-ring-gai, Mosman, North Sydney, Northern Beaches, Willoughby and Woollahra, Sydney Harbour National Park, including harbour islands, and Garigal National Park, and Sydney Water’s area of operations.
The study area comprises a variety of built and natural foreshore environments. These include sandy beaches, rocky foreshores, mangrove wetlands and saltmarsh, littoral rainforest and coastal cliffs. It also encompasses public assets and private development affected by coastal processes such as seawalls, open space, roads, buildings and utility services.
The importance of managing Sydney Harbour
Sydney Harbour is one of the world’s most iconic urban waterways. It is highly valued both locally and internationally for its beautiful beaches and parks, numerous recreational opportunities and significant Aboriginal and European heritage. The harbour also plays a vital role as a working port, a premier tourist destination and a haven for diverse marine life. Yet, like many urban waterways, the harbour faces threats such as stormwater pollution, sewage overflows, litter and coastal inundation. These threats are likely to intensify with continued population growth, urban expansion and the impacts of climate change.
To address these threats and protect the harbour’s values, the SCCG is preparing a CMP for outer Sydney Harbour. This initiative is being undertaken in partnership with local councils and state agencies, with financial assistance from the NSW Coastal and Estuary Grants Program.
The CMP will provide a long-term direction for the coordinated management of the coastal zone in outer Sydney Harbour. Through a series of targeted actions, the CMP aims to enhance ecological health, improve public amenity and strengthen resilience to coastal hazards, ensuring the harbour remains a vibrant and sustainable asset for generations to come.
