Overview

The draft Old and Manning Point Coastal Management Program (CMP) sets the long-term strategy for the management of the coast. It identifies the coastal management issues and the actions that we plan to do over the next 10-years to address those issues. The CMP outlines how and when the actions will be implemented, including measures to buy-time for landowners impacted by predicted coastal erosion.

Background

NSW Councils are required to prepare coastal management programs for their coastal areas to set the long-term strategy for the management of the coast. These programs replace the former Coastal Zone Management Plans that were previously prepared under the Coastal Protection Act 1979.

Council committed to advance the Old Bar Manning Point Program ahead of the broader Open Coast Coastal Management Program because of rapid coastal erosion and shoreline recession in this area and to provide the community with a clear direction about how this area is to be managed in the future.

Over the past two decades, Council has invested in many studies and reports to understand these processes and to consider options to manage their impacts. All of these options were considered in the Coastal Management Program.

A copy of these reports is available on Council's Coastal Management page.

Coastal erosion and shoreline recession are enduring issues in the area and the Old Bar Manning Point Coastal Management Program addresses this; however, it also considers a range of other management issues and opportunities in the coastal zone.

To support the development of the Old Bar Manning Point Coastal Management Program, Council engaged specialist consultants to update the coastal hazard mapping of the area.

Next steps

The Program has been drafted and reviewed by the NSW Government.

The draft Program will be on public exhibition in October 2025.

The NSW Government will then certify the Coastal Management Program.

Coastal erosion hazard mapping

Old Bar to Manning Point Coastal Erosion Hazard Mapping shows shows the predicted ongoing impact of coastal erosion and shoreline recession in the area in the period to 2100.

  • The mapping shows that for the most part, the residential area of Wallabi Point will be protected by the bedrock underlying that area.

  • North of Wallabi Point to approximately south of the Old Bar Public School will continue to recede and be vulnerable to coastal erosion with significant impacts on private properties and essential services like telecommunications, water and sewer.

  • Manning Point is a highly vulnerable community. The modelling predicts the township will be significantly impacted by coastal processes by 2060.

  • Coastal erosion hazard mapping update

    The record flood in May 2025 damaged the TfNSW southern spur training wall. This has caused significant erosion of the Manning Point Spit and the risk of a breakthrough at that location has significantly increased. The impacts from a breakthrough are unknown but there is serious risk to both Manning Point and parts of Harrington. TfNSW is working towards repairing the wall.

    Download the hazard mapping update (100mb) 

ISSUES AND OPTIONS DISCUSSION PAPER

An Issues and Options Discussion Paper was prepared to capture the various issues raised by our communities, the Community Reference Group, Council officers, and external agencies. The Discussion paper will be available to view online, along with the Draft CMP document, in October 2025.

Options Assessment

The identified management issues and actions were subject to a multicriteria analysis undertaken by an external consultant. The assessment of management actions against specific criteria is a requirement of the Coastal Management Program process. Many of the actions were eliminated as a result of that process.

The 73 actions identified were divided into 3 categories.

  • 1. No regrets options

    Include low-cost, low-risk, business-as-usual type actions.

    Some examples are preparing additional strategies or asset management plans and amending the planning framework.

    These were included in the Draft CMP without further consideration.

  • 2. Capital cost greater than $20M

    These options are considered by the consultant to be those that are outside the program funding thresholds.

    These actions were not evaluated further.

  • 3. Remaining options

    We considered these options against the following criteria:

    • feasibility - would it work?
    • affordability – can it be funded and is it affordable?
    • fairness - does it impose unreasonable obligations on the broader community and future generations?
The analysis was undertaken by the Project Team (excluding Council officers), the Community Reference Group and 15 community members. Download the Options Assessment Report.