Sydney’s Northern Beaches are set to reopen from Friday after days of heightened anxiety caused by a series of shark attacks and sightings, just in time for the Australia Day long weekend.
The Northern Beaches Council confirmed on Thursday evening that beaches would progressively return to normal operations following improved water conditions and safety assessments carried out in coordination with state authorities. The decision comes after a turbulent week that saw multiple beaches closed as a precaution amid poor visibility and confirmed shark activity.
Mayor Sue Heins said the council had taken a conservative approach throughout the week, prioritising public safety over the peak summer crowds expected for the national holiday.
“We have erred on the side of caution while the water visibility was so poor for the majority of the week,” Cr Heins said. “With conditions improving, we are now in a position to move towards normal operations on our beaches.”
She urged beachgoers to remain vigilant despite the reopening, reminding swimmers to follow standard safety advice.
“As always, the number one message is to swim between the flags, follow the directions of our incredible lifesavers and lifeguards, and avoid swimming at dawn and dusk,” she said.
The reopening has been approved by the Department of Primary Industries and Life Saving NSW, with enhanced safety measures to remain in place. These include the return of council and Life Saving NSW lifeguard patrols, ongoing jet ski surveillance, increased aerial monitoring, and the deployment of additional shark drum lines.
Council officials said each beach would be assessed individually, depending on local conditions and real-time observations by lifeguards on duty.
The announcement follows a week of alarming incidents across Sydney’s coastline and waterways. Early Thursday morning, swimmers and surfers at Coogee Beach were ordered out of the water after a suspected bull shark was sighted. Alarms were sounded as lifeguards urged beachgoers to leave the water immediately.
Footage circulating online also captured a dramatic moment earlier in the week when a suspected bull shark breached near Silverwater in Sydney’s west, forcing a high school rowing team to abandon training on the Parramatta River.
“Holy—,” a voice behind the camera can be heard saying as the shark leapt from the water, briefly distorting its body mid-air.
The spate of sightings comes after four separate shark attack incidents since Sunday afternoon, two of which left victims in critical condition.
On Sunday evening at around 6.20pm, 12-year-old Nico Antic was injured while jumping from rocks near Shark Beach at Nielsen Park in Sydney Harbour. He sustained injuries to both legs and was rushed to the Children’s Hospital at Randwick, where he remains in critical condition.
The following morning, an 11-year-old boy narrowly escaped injury after being knocked from his surfboard by a shark near Dee Why. Just hours later, a 27-year-old musician suffered critical injuries after being attacked by a shark at North Steyne Beach in Manly.
In a separate incident on Tuesday morning, a 39-year-old man was hospitalised after a shark attack at Point Plomer on the state’s North Coast. He escaped with non-life-threatening injuries.
Authorities have emphasised that shark sightings are not uncommon during warmer months, particularly following periods of heavy rainfall that reduce water clarity and push marine life closer to shore.
As thousands of Sydneysiders and tourists prepare to head to the coast for Australia Day celebrations, officials continue to urge caution, stressing that beach conditions can change rapidly despite increased monitoring.
