Escalating sand dune vandalism at Northern Beaches is pushing community groups and local councillors to demand stronger action, after years of night-time parties left a trail of broken glass, discarded furniture and bonfire remnants across some of Sydney’s most beloved coastal reserves — including at Avalon, Narrabeen and Freshwater.
The Surfrider Foundation Northern Beaches, based at the Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club at 50 Ocean St, has formally called on Northern Beaches Council to address what it describes as ongoing anti-social behaviour and environmental damage in the dunes. The group runs the local Adopt A Beach program, which coordinates community clean-up efforts along the coastline.
Program manager Jude Furniss said the damage extends well beyond litter. Volunteers have documented revellers pulling out the timber stakes used to support newly planted native seedlings — part of the council’s own dune restoration work — and throwing them onto bonfires. North Avalon, Mona Vale, Narrabeen and Freshwater have all been identified as trouble spots.
So far in 2026, Adopt A Beach volunteers have hauled more than 300 kilograms of bottles and cans out of the dunes, alongside bulky items including chairs, sofas, a barbecue, tents, clothing and even discarded surfboards. Furniss described the behaviour as showing “disrespect” for fragile ecosystems that support native plant and animal life.
“As much as we want places for different parts of the community to gather, they also need to respect the environment,” Furniss said. “Take your waste with you — don’t show disrespect for our natural environment.”
Greens councillor Kristyn Glanville has lodged a council motion seeking options to tackle the problem within six months. The motion calls on council staff to investigate an awareness campaign — potentially including social media — to raise public understanding of why the dunes matter. Cr Glanville noted in council agenda papers that the dunes provide habitat for local wildlife and contribute to the scenic character of beachside neighbourhoods.
“Options to respond to this issue could include education, signage and monitoring,” the motion states.
Northern Beaches Council has already erected warning signs at some beaches, including Freshwater, advising people to stay out of dunes currently undergoing regeneration.
It is worth noting where the legal responsibilities lie. Lighting fires on beaches and in sand dunes is prohibited, but enforcement sits with the police rather than the council. The council can, however, issue fines of $110 under the Local Government Act for failing to comply with dune protection notices or “No Entry” signs. For dumping rubbish or leaving hazardous material such as glass and charcoal, the state’s Protection of the Environment Operations Act applies — with on-the-spot fines of up to $1,000 and court-imposed penalties of up to $25,000 for serious offences.
The Surfrider Foundation says the problem is being driven largely by younger beachgoers, and that education will need to be part of any solution — alongside tougher enforcement.
Published 13-July-2026
