Exhibition of Draft Hawkesbury Nepean River System Coastal Management Program

Council is inviting community members to view and comment on the Draft Hawkesbury Nepean River System Coastal Management Program (Draft HNRS CMP), which will be on public exhibition for a period of 42 days, from Monday 20 April 2026 to Sunday 31 May 2026.

The Coastal Management Program (CMP) sets the long-term strategy for managing the Hawkesbury–Nepean River System - one of the most important and iconic waterways in NSW.

Often described as the “blue heart” of Sydney and the Central Coast, the river system supports a rich mix of environmental, cultural, and economic values. It provides habitat for diverse ecosystems, holds deep cultural significance, and supports recreation, tourism, and aquaculture across the region.

However, the river is facing increasing pressures from population growth, catchment development, coastal hazards, and climate change.

In response, six local councils - Northern Beaches, Central Coast, Ku-ring-gai, Hornsby Shire, The Hills Shire, and Hawkesbury City - have come together, in partnership with the NSW Government, to develop a coordinated, whole-of-system plan. Covering over 145 km of tidal waterways - from Broken Bay to Yarramundi, including Pittwater and Brisbane Water - the CMP represents a new, integrated approach to river management.

The CMP sets out a 10-year program of actions to:

• Improve water quality and ecosystem health
• Reduce coastal hazard risks
• Protect cultural heritage values
• Enhance recreational access and amenity
• Strengthen governance across the river system

The draft CMP is now on public exhibition. We invite you to review the plan and provide your feedback to help shape the future of the river system.

Making a submission:

The Draft Hawkesbury Nepean River System Coastal Management Program is listed under the Documents tab on this page, or can be viewed at:

Council will receive submissions via the Survey Tab below, in writing addressed to the General Manager, by mail to Hawkesbury City Council, PO Box 146 Windsor NSW 2756, or by email to council@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au (External link) up to Sunday 31 May 2026.

Should you lodge a submission, it will be considered, along with any other submissions received and may be included in Council’s meeting business paper. Submissions may also be shared with the HNRS CMP Steering Committee and Project Management Group. Your submission, including any personal information is accessible by any person upon written application, subject to Council’s Privacy Management Plan and the Government Information (Public Access) Act, 2009. The inclusion of personal information in your submission is voluntary, however, if not provided, may affect consideration of the submission. The information will ultimately be stored in Council’s records system.

The last day for the receipt of submissions is Sunday 31 May 2026.

Should you have any enquiries with respect to this matter, please contact Jack Kensey, Council’s Environmental Sustainability Coordinator on (02) 4560 4444 or attention email enquiries to council@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au (External link) with reference to Draft Hawkesbury Nepean River System Coastal Management Program.