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South Coast beaches among the best in Australia

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Locals soak up the sun at Broulee beach: South coast beaches are rated as some of the best in Australia Photo: Colleen Petch

South coast beaches have been rated as some of the best in Australia as swimming spots across NSW become cleaner.

An annual report by the Department of Environment's Beachwatch water quality monitoring servicerated 35 beaches on the south coast as either "very good" or "good" based on reporting data compiled during the past two to four years.

Two-thirds of south coast beaches reviewed were found to be very good, which meant water quality was considered to be excellent with very few potential sources of faecal pollution.

The remaining beaches were considered suitable for swimming at most times of the year with few exceptions.

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The south coast's report card was a stark contrast to Sydney's where eight beaches were found to be poor and one Foreshore beach next to Sydney Airport was awarded a "very poor" rating for the second year running.

Foreshore beach, which was closed earlier this year after reports of a mysterious orange tint, was considered unsuitable for swimming and susceptible to contamination from sewage overflows.

In the Shoalhaven City Council, all beaches were considered "very good" with the exception of Racecourse beach south of Bawley Point, where storm water pollution occasionally resulted in discoloured water or floating debris.

Further south in the Eurobodalla Shire Council, all beaches were classed as very good with the exception of Surf beach, Bengello beach south of Broulee, and Shelly beach at Moruya Heads which were considered occasionally unsuitable for swimming.

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South Coast beaches among the best in Australia

Piping plover stalling plans to replenish Fire Island beaches

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FIRE ISLAND, N.Y., Oct. 8 (UPI) -- A federally backed $207-million plan to replenish the sands along the beaches of New York's Fire Island has been stalled, thanks to an ongoing lawsuit filed by the state chapter of the Audubon Society which argues the project would threaten the federally protected piping plover.

Proponents of the project, which is backed by the Army Corps of Engineers and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, argue that reinforcing the beaches with additional sand is essential to protecting the people and property of Fire Island -- and preventing future storm damage from the likes of Hurricane Sandy.

In the lawsuit, the Audubon Society argues the beach rehabilitation project will "inhibit natural renewal of ephemeral pools, bay tidal flats and open vegetation," and prevent "natural storm processes that create habitat to act unimpeded."

"The burying of existing beaches under dredged material temporarily destroys available prey resources along the coast while the construction of dunes running parallel to the ocean fragments nesting habitat from optimal foraging habitat and prevents plovers from accessing bayside areas for foraging," the plaintiffs add.

The Audubon Society and their allies say the project is also a massive waste of money -- throwing away millions on a short-term and unreliable fix. But local supporters of the plan say environmentalists are valuing birds over people.

"They are asserting that habitat protection trumps the safety and security of the residents living in Mastic Beach and other low-lying South Shore communities," state representative Tim Bishop, D-Southampton, said in a statement. "This is a position I simply cannot support. I believe the action of Audubon New York in this instance, particularly as the dredging contract was about to be awarded, is indefensible."

At a hearing in federal court on Wednesday, a judge declined to lift the current injunction on the sand replenishment plans. The plaintiffs say they don't want to thwart the project in its entirety, but only wish to spare two vital nesting grounds on Fire Island. As of now, it appears federal officials may have to rethink their plans before they're able to move ahead with construction.

2014 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

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Piping plover stalling plans to replenish Fire Island beaches

Italy's beautiful and tourist-free beaches

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Getty Images Getty Images Flickr/Fiore Silvestro Barbato Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images

Spiaggia di Sansone, Tuscany: Located on Isola d'Elba (Elba island), just a short ferry ride from the region's rolling hills and vineyards, this beach is peppered with smooth white pebbles.

Spiaggia di Chiaia di Luna, Lazio: You won't find a better sunset vantage point than from its sandy, sheltered shore.

Spiaggia di Tordigliano, Campania: Only accessible by yacht, or by a rocky, two kilometre-long hillside trail, this beach remains unspoiled and commonly unfrequented.

Cala Pulcino, Sicily: You're most likely have this white sand cove with terrific views over the Mediterranean all to yourself.

Scala Dei Turchi, Sicily: You won't get a better view of southern Sicily's strange, spectacular landscape anywhere else.

Spiagga Macarro, Basilicata: In Maratea, a port town in Basilicata, there are many secluded coves and beaches, but the most striking is Spiagga Macarro.

Spiaggia di Caminia, Calabria: When in Calabria, head towards the Ionian coast - you'll find a smattering of sleepy "secret" beaches with the same iridescent waters.

Spiaggia del Due Sorelle: You won't find any food vendors, snorkel gear rentals or shower facilities here - just soaring limestone cliffs, silvery sand and the cool, translucent waters of the Adriatic.

Most sun-seeking visitors to Italy make a beeline for the obvious coastal getaways: Capri, Amalfi and the Cinque Terre. But beyond these famous shorelines, Italy abounds with equally beautiful and tourist-free beaches, in places you'd never expect. From the Tuscan countryside to the craggy cliffs of Marches, you'll find many spectacular hidden beaches - that you'll have all to yourself.

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Italy's beautiful and tourist-free beaches

Israeli surfing party (Israel beaches parties raves tel aviv nightlife girls women bikini 2014) – Video

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Israeli surfing party (Israel beaches parties raves tel aviv nightlife girls women bikini 2014)
Israeli end of year party of a surf club for 2014. At Tel Aviv and Sea of Galilee. (search terms: eilat nightlife tel aviv nightlife night life night clubs nightclubs beautiful israel army...

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Israeli surfing party (Israel beaches parties raves tel aviv nightlife girls women bikini 2014) - Video

Central California beaches reopen after great white shark attack

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Three beaches in Santa Barbara County have been reopened after a surfer was attacked by a great white shark last week.

The surfer suffered non-life threatening injuries to his knee, as well as cuts to other parts of his body, in the attack, which occurred about 5:30 p.m. Thursday a quarter-mile north of Wall Beach, officials said.

The attack prompted Vandenberg Air Force Base to close Surf, Wall and Minuteman beaches for 72 hours.

On Friday, a group of kayakers said they also came under attack by a great white shark near Point Conception north of Santa Barbara, prompting a mayday call for help.

When a fishing boat responded, one of the kayaks had been so badly damaged that it had started to sink.

The shark had knocked this guy out of the water, probably eight or nine feet through the air, Charles Christman, who assisted the kayakers, told KEYT's Tracy Lehr.It came out of the water and it punched about six or eight holes in the kayak. The kayak was sinking.

The kayakers described the shark as being 16 to 18 feet long.

The shark involved in Thursday's attack was likely8 to 10 feet long, according to Ralph Collier, president of the Shark Research Institute.

Follow the reporter on Twitter: @JasonBretWells

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Central California beaches reopen after great white shark attack

Great white shark attack closes California beaches

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VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. Three beaches along coastal Vandenberg Air Force Base have been closed through the weekend after a 28-year-old surfer survived an attack by ashark, authorities said Friday.

The man, whose name was not released, was surfing Thursday afternoon in an area called Jacks Point when he was bitten on the knee, said Tech. Sgt. Tyrona Lawson, a base spokeswoman.

The surfer was taken to a hospital emergency room, Lawson said in an email. She didn't elaborate on the extent of his injury or his condition.

Lawson said the surfer is a civilian employee who works at Vandenberg.

According to witnesses, he was surfing about a mile north of Wall Beach at about 5:30 p.m. Thursday when the attack occurred. Witnesses described thesharkas 10 to 12 feet long.

Vandenberg officials have closed the beach, along with nearby Surf and Minuteman beaches, until 4 p.m. Sunday.

A bite from agreatwhitesharkkilled a surfer at Surf Beach in October 2012, and a bodyboarder at the same beach died in October 2010 when what appeared to be agreatwhitenearly severed one of his legs.

"Coastal California is home to a healthygreatwhitesharkpopulation," Lawson said Friday. "Sharkslive here."

Vandenberg, located along the Santa Barbara County coastline, is a missile- and space-launch site about 130 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Surf Beach, which had been closed for several months during the Western Snowy Plover's nesting season, only reopened earlier this week.

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Great white shark attack closes California beaches

Tropical Storm Simon sending big waves to California beaches

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Tropical Storm Simon off Baja Mexico is creating high surf along local beaches, prompting warnings of strong rip currents and possible coastal flooding.

The National Weather Service issued a warning Monday for high surf and strong rip currents along beaches from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara counties as Tropical Storm Simon weakens and whips its way toward Baja, Mexico.

Waves as high as 8 feet could slam into the coast from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara counties, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a high surf advisory for Monday. Long Beach could see "minor coastal flooding and beach erosion" through Tuesday night.

Though Simon has been downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm, and is expected to continue to weaken as it crawls toward land across cooler water, its winds are forecast to still send high tides, strong currents and dangerous sneaker waves to Zuma and Malibu beaches, forecasters warned.

The advisory is just the latest in what has become a particularly damaging summer for Southern Californias coastline. A year of strong Pacific storms has torn apart the seafloor along the coast, displacing huge swaths of underwater coastline, which has created stronger rip currents and tides than normal.

L.A. Countys coastline usually sees much of its sand replenished during the summer due to generous tides, while winter storms typically erode beaches. This year, that hasnt happened.

At the same time, a series of heat waves over the past few months has lured millions of beach goers into the water, resulting in lifeguards having to rescue thousands more swimmers than usual because of the dangerous ocean conditions.

For breaking California news, follow@JosephSerna.

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Tropical Storm Simon sending big waves to California beaches


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