The Basin Beach, Mona Vale: Bid for ‘no take’ protection reserve rejected by state government

A spirited push to protect marine animals and plants at a popular Sydney swimming spot has been rejected by state authorities.

Basin Beach, also known as Bongin Bongin Bay, at Mona Vale, has been the focus of an energetic community campaign to have it declared a “no take” Aquatic Reserve. Picture: Samantha Studdert

An energetic community campaign to have a popular ocean swimming spot declared a “no take” marine creature protection zone, has been thwarted by the state government.

A bid to make the Basin Beach at Mona Vale an official Aquatic Reserve has not been successful, Environment Minister Penny Sharpe has confirmed.

The beach, also known as Bongin Bongin (Aboriginal for “many shells”) Bay, had been the focus of a push to halt angling, spearfishing and the taking of shell fish and seaweeds.

Community groups including the Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay, made up of “local ocean and pool swimmers, surfers, surf life savers and beach users”, had been calling on Northern Beaches Council to support their campaign.

The Basin Beach at Mona Vale will not be becoming a “no take” Aquatic Reserve. Picture: John Grainger

At the June meeting of the council last year independent councillor Candy Bingham along with the Greens’ councillor Miranda Korzy and Your Northern Beaches independent Michael Gencher, introduced a notice of motion that the council seek the views of the NSW Department of Fisheries about the proposal.

The Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay wanted the Intertidal Protected Area at Mona Vale Headland be reclassified as an Aquatic Reserve and this reserve to include Bongin Bongin Bay and its adjacent rock platforms.

An anger fishing from the beach at the Basin Mona Vale. Picture John Grainger

The council was advised by staff that the bay has seven types of marine habitat and, because it was midway between two other Aquatic Reserves — Barrenjoey and Narrabeen headlands — it was a wildlife corridor.

Independent councillor Vincent De Luca had an amendment to the motion accepted that all petitions and any other correspondence received from groups, which also included the Nature Conservation Council NSW, Surfrider Foundation Australia, National Parks Association of NSW and Dive Industry Association Australia, be forwarded to the Environment Minister.

The Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay were lobbying to have the bay, also known as Basin Beach, at Mona Vale, declared an Aquatic Reserve. Picture: Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay

But Ms Sharpe told Northern Beachs Mayor Sue Heins that “currently, we are focused on managing marine areas in NSW through a network of marine protected areas”.

“AT this stage the government does not have plans for establishing any new marine parks or aquatic reserves,” Ms Sharpe confirmed.

She also told Cr Heins that, despite the decision “appreciate the value of community led initiative and the role they play in protecting our marine estate”.