Why this beach was named Sydney's cleanest
This spot on the city's northern beaches has been named the cleanest, while another popular Sydney beach is given a "poor" rating for the fifth year running.
Sydney's cleanest beaches have been named for 2026, with Avalon taking the top spot. Overall, 97% of monitored ocean beaches received a rating of good or very good, up from 95% the previous year. However, Coogee Beach, a popular swimming spot, received a poor grade for the fifth year in a row, attributed to its susceptibility to stormwater impacts.
Birdie Beach, Frazer Beach, and Forsters Beach shared the top honors on the Central Coast, while Warrain Beach in the Shoalhaven was the cleanest in the south. Despite improvements in water quality, some beaches continue to face water quality issues. The report highlights that rainfall, stormwater drains, sewage outflows, and swimmers themselves can contribute to faecal contamination risks.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
