‘Fun police’ tell Northern Beaches locals they risk $1100 fines for opening lagoon entrances

Locals digging channels from Northern Beaches lagoons to the sea to create some surfing fun have been warned they’ll be hit with massive fines for the illegal work.

It’s been going on for decades — fun-loving Northern Beaches locals using shovels to open the mouths of beachside lagoons so they can play in the current rushing out to sea.

But the surfers, swimmers and bodyboarders have been put on notice that they face massive fines for the illegal work to create “standing waves”.

Authorities warn that the strong waves and fast moving currents formed by unauthorised digging at Dee Why, Curl Curl and Narrabeen lagoons are dangerous and can trap “even strong swimmers”.

Bodyboarders enjoying the opening of Dee Why Lagoon in 2007 by using the standing waves created by the current. Picture: Martin Lange

There is also a serious health risk from contaminated water, especially after heavy rain.

In February the Many Daily reported on the rescue of an elderly man, who was knocked off his feet by floodwater rushing from Dee Why Lagoon. He was saved from being washed into the heavy swell by quick thinking surfers and bodyboarders who were taking advantage of the standing waves.

Northern Beaches Council has advised residents that people caught doing unauthorised illegal work to remove sand from lagoon entrances would be handed a $1100 penalty notice.

The warning comes after a Dee Why resident saw people, including four teens, with spades digging a channel to the ocean from Dee Why Lagoon on Saturday, September 10.

Children taking advantage of the standing waves at the Dee Why Lagoon entrance in 2007. Picture: Martin Lange

He witnessed the two adults watching the teenagers, aged 12 to 14, create a metre-wide trench.

The resident, who asked not to be named, told the Manly Daily that the trench soon opened to close to 4m wide and started funnelling a large flow of water.

“It created a large wave that the children were surfing on with surfboards,” he said.

“I asked one parent what they were doing and the man said ‘I know some people don’t like it, but it’s fun for the kids and people have been doing it here for years’.

“I was told I’m part of the fun police.”

Authorities say people risk becoming trapped by standing waves or having their health affected by water rushing from Northern Beaches lagoons. Picture: Martin Lange

The resident contacted the council’s customer service hotline to ask if the unauthorised work was being monitored.

In its response to the resident, the council wrote that while the lagoons on the Northern Beaches do open and close naturally, depending on rainfall and ocean conditions, they could also be opened by the council or “illegally by members of the public”.

It told the resident that, when required, the council opened the entrances to reduce the risk of flooding to properties surrounding the lagoons.

An excavator works through the build up of sand on North Narrabeen Beach as the council makes an opening to release water from Narrabeen Lagoon in 2020. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“Council considers mechanically opening a lagoon to let the water drain into the sea once the lagoon’s water reaches a specific level.

“Opening the lagoon below this specific level can have adverse impacts on the ecosystem and is often unsuccessful for mitigating flooding.”

The council wrote that other natural factors affect its ability to mechanically open the lagoons, including the forecast rainfall, tide, ocean swell and the height of the sand berm at the entrance.

The entrance of Narrabeen Lagoon being opened in the 1920s to prevent flooding. Photo courtesy State Library of NSW

“Unauthorised lagoon openings are illegal and can be dangerous for members of the public,” it warned.

“The water outflow often develops into ‘standing waves’, with particularly dangerous downward pressure.

“This can trap even strong swimmers.

Surfers and beachgoers rescue a man swept away by the powerful current as water rushed from the entrance to Dee Why Lagoon into the ocean in February. Image: Instagram – skymonkey5.

“After heavy rains, contaminated water carries serious health risks to humans and marine life. Unauthorised lagoon opening carries fines up to $1100.”

The council urged beachgoers who witness the illegally opening of a lagoon to call 1300 434 434 or email [e-mail].