FAQs

There are potentially many options of varying degrees of cost and effectiveness. Our intention is to promote and advocate for both short term and long term planning, funding and preventative and/or restorative action, consistent with the Purpose and Objectives outlined in the Friends of Surfside Beach constitution. As at May 2026, emergency sand scraping is critical as a short term solution. We will also be advocating for Council to apply for funding that would commence planning toward a long term permanent solution.

Friends of Surfside Beach has no authority to make any decisions, set strategy or guide funding at any level of Government. Friends of Surfside is about working with Council, government entities and elected officials in a constructive manner, to influence positive outcomes for the community consistent with the Purpose and Objectives outlined in the Friends of Surfside Beach constitution and representative of the feedback and advice from its members. We will provide a voice for the community and make representations in a more coordinated way than what sometimes happens when multiple individuals communicate to a government body on the same topic. We will be open and transparent in our dealings. Where there are differing or conflicting views across the community, we will ensure that stakeholders understand that there are multiple views.

Yes, but there are also other government entities with responsibilities relating to Surfside Beach.

The Eurobodalla Coastal Management Program (CMP) provides the overarching framework for funding and coastal management actions. The CMP can be found at Eurobodalla Open Coast CMP. Importantly, the CMP outlines various actions directly relevant to Surfside Beach, including (but not limited to) frontal dune management (Council responsibility – CH9_A) and beach nourishment from sand dredging in the Batemans Bay and Clyde River area (Transport for NSW responsibility – CH1_L). Within the CMP, sand scraping is the only management option currently available to Council, for protecting the dune from coastal erosion in the short term. Further detailed information relating to the CMP is publicly available at Coastal management | Eurobodalla Council.

Additionally, as at May 2026, Council has confirmed that the 2005 Surfside Beach foreshore reserve plan of management (adopted 2008) remains a valid document. The map below (extract from page 27) shows Council’s area of responsibility. The report is at Surfside Beach foreshore reserve plan of management.

In short, no. The following information is relevant to that misunderstanding:

• Details of the $12 million disaster readiness fund works package are on Council’s infrastructure website. See Batemans Bay coastal protection works | Eurobodalla Council.
• In 2023, Ms Fiona Phillips MP delivered a speech to Parliament (replicated in a media release) outlining how $12 million in Federal, State and Council funds under the disaster readiness program was “much-needed funding for disaster mitigation and relief for Surfside residents”. See the following link to the Australian Parliament House Hansard:
  Hansard – House of Representatives 15/06/2023 Parliament of Australia.
• FOI documents on the National Emergency Management Agency’s FOI disclosure log show that Eurobodalla Shire Council is utilising those funds consistent with their funding application. The locations of works have not varied. Some of the documents suggest that not all stakeholders understood the difference between Surfside and Surfside West, at that time. See https://www.nema.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-10/document-package-foi-2425-06.pdf. FOI 2425-05 also has some relevant info.
• At the 16 July 2024 ordinary Council meeting, the agenda included a Mayoral Minute dealing with coastal protection works and how they do or don’t relate to Surfside. It spelt out Council’s position and articulated how the $12 million disaster ready funds were being allocated (a number of locations but not Surfside Beach). See pages 9 to 13 at Agenda of Ordinary Meeting – Tuesday, 16 July 2024. From that report, a subsequent Mayoral Minute recorded three advocacy and representational related recommendations. See Ordinary Council – Tuesday, 29 April 2025. Also see two presentations from members of the public at that meeting, at Public-Forum-16-July-2024.pdf.

Dredging occurred in 2025:

• The CMP reports that “…placement of dredge material directly on the beach or marginally offshore (within 100m of shoreline…) is required to ensure nourishment of the beach is achieved. It has been shown offshore placement may not result in movement of sand to the beach shoreline particularly if it coincides with Clyde River flood flows.”
• Transport for NSW’s dredging plan proposed to place dredged sand in-water about 600m from the shore. See Batemans Bay Dredging Proposal – Have Your Say.
• The public was invited to comment on the Review of Environmental Factors(REF) through a submission and feedback process.
• The submission report summarised 52 submissions received and noted “the majority of submissions received during the public exhibition of the REF raised concerns regarding the proposed methodology for placement of dredged material.” The report is available at Clyde River Bar Dredging (2025 -2035) REF Submissions Report.
• The Port Frederick dredging vessel carried out is dredging work from 17 to 30 October 2025, removing around 30,000 cubic metres of sand from the bar. The sand was dropped around 600+ metres from the Surfside shoreline and Transport for NSW committed to post-dredging monitoring of the sand movement (source – Transport for NSW community information email).

GeoScience Australia publishes coastline mapping data, tracking shoreline recession. Surfside shorelines appear to have been receding since records began. See Digital Earth Australia at:
https://maps.dea.ga.gov.au/#share=s-qX1jdpD5qScGiczE2Qh4VRnIT04 (click ‘no’ to the story button).

No, there is no additional charge for Surfside residents.
2024-25 rates notices included an information sheet explaining how rates are
calculated – a base charge component is the same for all ratepayers, and a ‘rate in
the dollar’ charge added based on land values (note, land values are a responsibility
of the NSW Valuer General). Both components include a general rates amount and
an environmental levy. In 2024-25, the environmental levy was approximately $46.58
on average for each residence in the Eurobodalla.
The information sheet described the environmental levy – “Covers dune care,
estuary management, weed and pest control, environmental monitoring, foreshore
protection and studies that will help develop plans for the protection of our
waterways and ecological systems.”
ESC has advised Friends of Surfside Beach that its current annual operational
budget for the delivery of coastal management (eg dune care, foreshore reserve
management) is around $65,000 for the entire 145km of Eurobodalla coastline which
is also used for grant leverage. Council also commits other capital budgets as
required for delivery of major infrastructure projects eg rock walls, from the CMP to
enable further leverage through grants.
Note – we are unable to provide a hyperlink for you to fact check this answer. We can
advise however that ESC confirmed the accuracy of the information in this answer, in
writing to Friends of Surfside Beach, in June 2026.

Friends of Surfside Beach will never advocate for any particular candidate or party, at any level of government. We will present facts and links to statements or information, we will ask questions on behalf of our members and we may ask electoral candidates to comment on Surfside Beach issues for the purpose of relaying collective responses to members. But we will never suggest who anyone should vote for. We are not a lobby group and it is important that we remain apolitical and work as constructively as possible with all future elected representatives.