Update: Preparations underway to open Narrabeen Lagoon entrance

While heavy rainfall fell across the Northern Beaches last weekend, the Narrabeen Lagoon didn’t reach the level required for a successful opening.                                                       

With significant falls predicted across the next three days, Council will pre-emptively open the lagoon today. Although the lagoon is slightly lower than the minimum 1m required, the forecast rainfall should ensure that the entrance opens to the ocean. 

A similar pilot channel has been created at Manly and both Dee Why and Curl Curl lagoons are either open or will reopen naturally below trigger levels.

Our experts will continue to closely monitor the tides, wind, rainfall, swell and lagoon levels around the clock, and have crews on standby to take whatever additional action is needed.

People in low lying areas around our lagoons and waterways should be on alert and monitor forecasts and warnings.

SES: https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/

Manly Hydraulics Lab: http://www.mhl.nsw.gov.au/users/NBFloodInfo-CurrentConditions

BOM: http://www.bom.gov.au/

Watch the video below to learn more about how Council manages Narrabeen Lagoon. 

Friday 12 March 

Update: the pilot channel is now in place and the entrance will be opened when it reaches the trigger level.

While we didn’t receive the forecast rainfall over the last few days, there are further falls predicted across the weekend and early next week. Council staff will continue to monitor the lagoon levels around the clock and have machinery on stand-by to open the entrance if the trigger levels are reached.

To learn more about how and when Council opens the lagoon entrance, watch the explainer video below.

Wednesday 10th March 2021

Northern Beaches Council is preparing an entrance channel at Narrabeen Lagoon this morning in preparation for heavy rainfall over the coming days. Heavy machinery is operating at the entrance to today to dig a channel to help open the lagoon once the level rises.

The lagoon is normally opened when levels are between 1m and 1.3m above sea level. The lagoon is now at 0.8m above sea level and approximately 50mm of rain is forecast over the next two days. Council staff will monitor the rainfall and lagoon conditions over the coming days and will open the lagoon when the water levels hit these trigger levels, and tides and ocean conditions allow.

Timing the lagoon opening in large weather events is challenging. To better understand how Council manages the opening of the lagoon, watch this video.

If members of the public have any concerns, please call our Customer Service team on 1300 434 434.