Tag: Northern Beaches Council

The preservation of Dee Why Lagoon stands as one of the Northern Beaches’ earliest and most hard-fought environmental victories—a battle that spanned decades and pitted local advocates and council against development pressures and a powerful landowner. Today, the peaceful estuary offers sanctuary to birdlife and a breath of nature for the community, but its survival was never guaranteed.

Read: Dee Why Divided Over Plans for Outdoor Gym at James Meehan Reserve

For more than a century, Dee Why Lagoon faced the threat of being carved up, filled in, or built over. Though smaller and less prominent than nearby Narrabeen Lagoon, its ecological and scenic value is just as vital to the character of Dee Why and Collaroy. Saving it required tireless effort, strategic negotiation, and a deep belief in the value of public green space.

The lagoon’s troubles began with land grants in the early 1800s. After passing through several owners, the area around the lagoon was inherited by Elizabeth Jenkins, who eventually donated it to the Salvation Army in exchange for an annuity. The Army believed it owned not only the land but the lagoon itself, arguing that it was a self-contained lake. That claim was overturned in 1910 when the High Court declared the lagoon an estuary of the sea—and thus Crown land.

However, the lagoon was still effectively off-limits to the public, surrounded entirely by land under the Army’s control, including the sand spit that separates the lagoon from the ocean. In the decades that followed, the Army repeatedly attempted to subdivide and sell portions of the land, particularly the sand spit, prompting growing concern among locals and environmental advocates.

Warringah Council, backed by groups such as the Wildlife Preservation Society and the Parks and Playgrounds Movement, pushed to acquire the land for public use. But progress was slow. The Army initially demanded £10,800—an unaffordable sum during the Great Depression. 

The council tried various angles, from asking the state government for financial help to proposing a small rate levy on local residents. After years of back-and-forth, the Army finally accepted a reduced price of £6,200 in 1936, and generously donated the sand spit—on the condition that the council covered legal costs. The deal was finalised in 1937.

Ironically, public ownership brought new challenges. The southern end of the lagoon was used as a rubbish tip, later becoming the site of a park. Wetlands were reclaimed for housing and light industry. Still, enough of the lagoon was preserved to provide an enduring refuge for wildlife and a reminder of what was saved—and what was lost.

Read: Dee Why Beach Incident Highlights Shark Net Controversy, Removal Being Considered

Dee Why Lagoon remains a case study in environmental persistence. Its protection didn’t come easily, and its current state reflects both the triumphs and compromises of urban conservation. In a rapidly developing city, the lagoon endures as a symbol of what a community can achieve when it decides that nature is worth the fight.

Published 11-April-2025