Construction is underway on a major residential development in Dee Why, “Casa Delmar. ” It is one of the first projects approved under new NSW Government planning rules that fast-track developments.
The new state government scheme allows a streamlined assessment process for major projects deemed “state significant development” (SSD). This pathway allows developers to bypass local councils, which have often been accused of delaying or rejecting projects, and gain approval directly from the state government.
Landmark Group’s two projects, Casa Delmar in Dee Why and Live Caringbah in the Sutherland Shire, represent a combined investment of $600 million. Both developments include 15 per cent affordable housing designated for essential service workers, such as nurses and police officers. A representative for Landmark Group noted their commitment to raising the standard for affordable living in Australia.
The Dee Why and Caringbah projects will deliver nearly 500 apartments combined. Landmark Group plans to deliver 1,450 apartments across Sydney by 2026, with a total development pipeline exceeding $5 billion.
Landmark Group’s CEO emphasised the company’s dedication to addressing the housing crisis. He stated that housing affordability is a significant challenge, and they aim to be part of the solution. He added that the company is committed to delivering quality, affordable homes that allow essential workers to live closer to their jobs.
Police responded to reports of a possible armed robbery just before 8:00 p.m. at a store on The Strand on 6 February.
According to authorities, a group of five young males entered the store and refused to leave when asked by a staff member. An argument broke out, and one of the boys was allegedly carrying a knife.
The group then stole several items before running away, and headed north towards Dee Why Lagoon.
Dee Why Convenience Store CCTV Footage Helps Identify Suspects
Officers from the Northern Beaches Police Area Command arrived quickly and spoke with the store employee. After reviewing CCTV footage, they recognised some of the youths as individuals known to them. With this information, police and the Dog Unit focused their search on the Collaroy area.
Around 45 minutes later, officers spotted three boys walking along Pittwater Road near the shops. Two of them, aged 16 and 13, were taken into custody and transported to Manly Police Station for questioning.
Police Continue Search for Remaining Suspects
While two arrests have been made, police are still working to identify and locate the other three individuals involved. Detectives spent the evening at the Dee Why convenience store, gathering evidence.
Authorities confirmed that the two arrested teenagers would be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act. This legislation allows young people accused of certain offences to go through alternative legal processes, such as youth justice conferences, cautions, or warnings, rather than formal court proceedings.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing, and police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
This marks the second such incident in recent months, raising concerns about the presence of these venomous creatures in the area.
The incident occurred shortly after 1:00 p.m. on Monday, 27 January, while the girl explored rock pools at the southern end of Dee Why Beach. After experiencing a sharp pain in her foot, she alerted lifeguards, who observed a welt on her ankle and noted her increasing nausea.
Suspecting a blue-ringed octopus bite, the lifeguards immobilised her and called for an ambulance.
NSW Ambulance paramedics, including an intensive care team, arrived quickly and treated the girl. Although she did not display life-threatening symptoms, paramedics decided to transport her to Northern Beaches Hospital as a precaution.
This incident follows a similar occurrence on 27 October 2024, when a 34-year-old woman was also hospitalised after a suspected blue-ringed octopus bite at the same location.
A proposal to redevelop a prime location near Dee Why Beach into a luxury apartment complex has been unveiled, potentially changing the face of the popular beachfront area.
The $11 million project aims to replace two well-known restaurants with a four-storey building comprising high-end apartments and commercial space.
The site, located on the corner of Pacific Pde and Griffin Rd, currently houses the JB & Sons burger restaurant and the Beach Burrito Co. If approved, these eateries would be demolished to make way for a new structure designed by Platform Architects. The proposed building would feature nine residential units, two ground-floor commercial spaces, and a two-level basement car park.
Photo Credit: Google Map
The developer, Harrington Property, purchased the property in 2014 for $2.75 million. One of Harrington’s executive directors, Matt Davison, suggested that the existing restaurants could lease space in the new development. He envisions the commercial spaces being occupied by cafes or restaurants, contributing to the area’s vibrant atmosphere.
The project also addresses the need for more downsizing options in the Northern Beaches. The apartments, boasting views of Dee Why and Long Reef beaches, are intended to appeal to residents looking to scale down without compromising on quality or location. The development includes a mix of 3-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 1-bedroom units, catering to various needs.
In addition, the development will incorporate three affordable housing units designed for low to moderate-income earners.
Davison emphasised the project’s potential to enhance the area. He highlighted the high-quality design and finishes, stating that the development would set a new standard for Dee Why. As a resident, he expressed his investment in creating a development that would be a source of pride for the community.
The development application is open for public feedback, allowing residents to have their say on the proposed project.
This is the first time in the event’s history that so many people have signed up, with 3,000 more participants than last year. The popular event follows a scenic coastal route, starting at Dee Why and finishing at Manly Beach.
Participants can choose to tackle either a 10km or 7km course. The route takes them past stunning views of Curl Curl, Freshwater, and Queenscliff beaches. This is open to everyone, from serious runners to families who want to enjoy a healthy day out. It’s not just about fitness; it’s also about community spirit and giving back.
The event raises money for charities across Australia, and this year, they aim to raise $100,000. So far, $60,000 has already been donated.
This year’s event is officially the biggest one ever and sold out earlier than expected. Organisers encourage participants to check the event website for important information before race day. The Northern Beaches Council produces the Sun Run, with support from sponsors like Bioglan, The Athlete’s Foot, and Muscle Republic.
It’s a big community effort, with local businesses like Harbord Diggers and Harris Farm Markets also supporting. The Sun Run is happening on the same weekend as another big Manly event, the Cole Classic Ocean Swim.
The Dee Why Civic Centre is being considered for addition to the NSW Heritage Register. It will join a growing list of over 1,000 sites protected in the last five years, including a dinosaur statue, a horse trough, and even road guttering.
In the past five years, local councils across NSW have added various unusual sites to their heritage registers. These include Ploddy the Dinosaur, a roadside attraction near the Australian Reptile Park, a section of kerb and guttering in Maclean, and a horse trough in the Blue Mountains.
This trend has sparked debate about whether councils use heritage listings to prevent new housing developments. The Dee Why Civic Centre, constructed in the Brutalist style in 1973 when Warringah Council relocated from Brookvale, is among the buildings considered for heritage protection.
Councils Accused of Using Heritage Listings to Block Development
Sydney YIMBY, an organisation advocating for increased housing in Sydney, argues that many recently listed sites are “unremarkable” and that councils are using heritage protection to halt housing growth. They believe heritage listings should be reserved for truly unique places, and councils should focus on meeting current housing needs.
Jim Carroll, strata chair for the Ithaca Gardens tower in Elizabeth Bay, which the City of Sydney Council is proposing to list, expressed concern that heritage status would impose delays, costs, and restrictions on unit owners.
However, others argue that heritage protection is crucial for preserving history. Cheryl Bates, Sydney branch president of the National Trust, emphasises the importance of respecting heritage as a significant part of our story, particularly in rapidly changing areas like Parramatta.
She points out that some heritage in Parramatta is over 200 years old and that the area has already seen the destruction of historic sites.
The Property Council of Australia believes heritage laws must balance current housing demands. NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully agrees, stating that councils should not use heritage protection to avoid their responsibility to increase housing supply. He emphasised that each local government area has a housing target to meet.
The recent appearance of marble-sized grime balls on Dee Why Beach has raised concerns over Sydney’s sewage system, with experts linking the pollution to outdated wastewater management.
Dee Why Beach was among nine Northern Beaches Suburbs temporarily closed in January 2025 after white and grey grime balls washed ashore. The phenomenon follows similar incidents over the past six months, including discovering black grime balls on beaches from Bondi to Coogee in late 2024. The balls, which range from pea to marble size, have been found to contain fats, oils, human hair, and traces of medications, strongly indicating a link to sewage pollution.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Sydney Water are investigating the origin of the debris, but no conclusive answers have been found. Experts have suggested that Sydney’s wastewater system, which relies on primary treatment, could be the source of the recurring pollution.
Sydney’s primary treatment plants at North Head, Malabar, and Bondi only remove solids and skim fats and grease from wastewater before discharging the effluent into the ocean via deepwater outfalls. These pipes, built in the 1990s, extend 2 to 4 kilometres offshore but do not address dissolved contaminants, oils, or smaller particles in the water.
Stuart Khan, a water treatment expert from the University of Sydney, believes the grime balls could form when untreated fats and oils discharged from outfall pipes mix with seawater. Heavy rainfall, like Sydney’s recent summer storms, may worsen the issue by causing leaks or overflows from stormwater systems, which can carry untreated sewage into the ocean.
The Role of Environmental Factors
Experts say ocean currents may distribute the balls across Sydney’s beaches, including Dee Why. The EPA’s chemical analysis of previous incidents found petroleum hydrocarbons linked to shipping fuels, but human-generated waste was confirmed as the primary component. The presence of materials such as hair, calcium, and pharmaceuticals strongly implicates Sydney’s wastewater system.
CSIRO scientist Dr Sharon Hook said the balls appear to form when fats, oils, and non-water-soluble materials combine in the ocean. She warned that while the exact source remains unknown, the balls clearly pose environmental and public health risks, advising beachgoers to avoid touching them.
Historical Context and Calls for Change
Sydney’s reliance on primary sewage treatment has been criticised for decades. In the 1980s, the Stop the Ocean Pollution (STOP) campaign advocated for secondary treatment to be added to Sydney’s wastewater plants, which would include biological filtration and finer contaminant removal. However, the city instead opted to extend the outfalls, citing cost concerns.
Environmental advocate Dr Richard Gosden, a member of STOP, said Sydney’s decision to forgo secondary treatment decades ago is now contributing to ocean pollution. He described the situation as a failure to protect both marine ecosystems and the community. Similar sentiments were echoed by Professor Sharon Beder, who has studied Sydney’s sewage engineering history and argues that authorities need to act swiftly to modernise the system.
Investigations and Future Plans
The EPA and Sydney Water are working with external experts to trace the origin of the grime balls. Potential sources under investigation include illegal dumping, sewage outfalls, and stormwater runoff. Sydney Water has announced a $30 billion investment plan to modernise wastewater infrastructure over the next decade, but experts believe more immediate action is needed.
Beachgoers at Dee Why and other affected areas are urged to report any new debris to local authorities and avoid closed beaches. Cleanup efforts are ongoing, with councils working closely with the EPA to manage and dispose of the pollution safely.
Hundreds of mysterious grey, marble-sized balls have washed ashore at Dee Why and eight other sites in the Northern Beaches, prompting immediate closures for public safety.
In coordination with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Council has launched an investigation to identify the nature and origin of the debris.
Impact on the Community
The affected beaches include Dee Why, Manly, Long Reef, Queenscliff, Freshwater, North and South Curl Curl, North Steyne, and North Narrabeen. Council representatives have urged beachgoers to avoid these areas until further notice, advising the public not to touch the debris while clean-up efforts are underway.
Officials and EPA experts are working to collect and test the balls, described as grey or white, with most the size of marbles and a few larger. Results from sample testing would determine the next steps.
Residents who notice similar debris on other beaches are encouraged to contact the council hotline at 1300 434 434.
This latest incident mirrors similar events along the Sydney coastline in recent months. In October 2024, thousands of black, tar-like balls were found along beaches in the city’s eastern suburbs, including Coogee and Bondi. Tests revealed that those earlier balls contained a mixture of human-generated waste, including petroleum hydrocarbons, fatty acids, and traces of organic materials.
While the exact source of the current debris remains unclear, investigators are exploring whether it could be linked to industrial or wastewater pollution, as seen in past occurrences.
Environmental and Public Health Concerns
Community members have raised concerns about the potential environmental impact and health risks posed by the debris. Previous findings have linked similar materials to pollutants like motor oil and wastewater discharge, which can harm marine ecosystems and potentially expose humans to hazardous substances.
Beaches will remain closed until authorities complete testing and confirm that conditions are safe for public access. Clean-up crews have been deployed to affected areas, and additional inspections of nearby beaches are ongoing.
A dramatic rescue of an endangered leatherback turtle off Dee Why Beach has reignited an ongoing debate over shark nets along the NSW coast, and whether a decision needs to be made to remove these controversial barriers.
In March 2024, lifeguards at Dee Why Beach on Sydney’s Northern Beaches saved a possibly 100-year-old leatherback turtle entangled in shark nets about one kilometre offshore. The rescue, captured on drone footage, showed the exhausted animal struggling to free itself from the netting that covered its entire body.
Northern Beaches lifeguards David Hooper and Tiaan Cronje responded quickly to the distressed turtle. The lifeguards spent over 20 minutes carefully cutting away the netting to free the turtle.
Shark Net Program Changes
Following incidents like the one at Dee Why, the NSW government has announced plans to remove shark nets one month earlier than usual, on 31 March 2025. This decision is part of a broader initiative to reassess shark mitigation strategies along the NSW coast, including at popular beaches like Dee Why.
Recent data has highlighted the toll of shark nets on marine ecosystems. Of 255 marine animals caught in the 2023-24 season, only 15 were target shark species. Alarmingly, 65 endangered animals were caught, including green turtles, bottlenose dolphins, and a humpback whale.
Alternative Safety Measures
While some nets may be removed, other safety measures will remain in place at beaches like Dee Why. These include baited SMART drumlines, drone surveillance, listening stations, and community education programs.
“We will be working closely with local governments, SLSNSW and Surfing NSW over this season to ensure the future of this program works for the communities it operates in,” Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty stated.
Consultations with coastal councils will be scheduled, with measures potentially allowing them to choose how to keep their beaches safe up for discussion. This could mean the removal of nets at beaches like Dee Why in the future.
Nathaniel Menere, a 19-year-old Dee Why local, allegedly led police on a dangerous chase that began on Pittwater Road. Menere, driving his employer’s Toyota Camry, reportedly caught the attention of police due to excessive speeding.
The pursuit came to an end when Menere’s vehicle crash occurred with an unoccupied Toyota ute in the Dee Why Beach car park. Fortunately, no bystanders were injured in the incident.
Local police successfully apprehended Menere and his passengers, including a 16-year-old, after a brief foot chase.
This incident is particularly concerning for locals as it was revealed that Menere had been granted bail for previous driving offences just over a week earlier. Despite being under house arrest at the time, he was allegedly able to access a vehicle and engage in this high-risk behaviour.
In a decision that may surprise many, Menere was granted bail again on Friday, July 19, under strict conditions. These include a curfew and a prohibition on driving.
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