Hunter's beaches and swimming sites continue to ride a wave of success

Stating that the Hunter is home to some of the best beaches and swimming sites in NSW is not just an opinion, it is also a fact; with Beachwatch’s latest ‘State of the Beaches’ report revealing another year of high scores for the region.

The annual scorecard for 2021-22 has graded 100 per cent of monitored swimming sites in the Hunter as ‘Good’ or ‘Very Good’ – mirroring last year’s results – with most of the locations either improving or maintaining their water quality.

The report graded the performance of 17 beaches and swimming sites across the Hunter, which are monitored by Hunter Water, City of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie City Council, and Port Stephens Council.

Hunter Water Executive Manager, Emma Berry, said the results from the report were reflective of an ongoing commitment to the health of the Hunter’s waterways.

“Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens are home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the state, with our waterways being one of the lead contributors to our region’s identity.

“Hunter Water is dedicated to delivering positive environmental outcomes across our region for generations to come, as we will continue to invest millions of dollars to upgrade our infrastructure throughout the Lower Hunter.

“Our community can also help by being mindful that all stormwater makes its way to our creeks, rivers, lakes and oceans. By correctly disposing of grass clippings, rubbish and oils, together we can keep our waterways clean and healthy,” said Ms Berry.

The State of the Beaches report is published annually by Beachwatch, which is the recreational water quality monitoring program of the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. The full report can be viewed at environment.nsw.gov.au