Dee Why Archives - Dee Why News

Missing Dog Rescued from Dee Why High-Rise After Drone Discovery

Photo Credit: Northern Beaches Community, holistickd/Instagram

A missing Jack Russell Terrier’s days-long disappearance took an extraordinary turn when a drone spotted her stranded on a narrow 13th-floor ledge of a Dee Why apartment building — a discovery that transformed a worried neighbourhood search into a delicate high-rise rescue.

It began with flyers, phone calls and the anxious rhythm familiar to anyone who has lost a pet.

Ellbie, the two-year-old JRT, had vanished on 25 April while being cared for in Dee Why, leaving those looking after her searching nearby streets and hoping someone in the community might have seen her. As word spread, locals shared the appeal, keeping watch for the small terrier who had suddenly disappeared.

*Photo Credit: Northern Beaches Community/Facebook*

Then a drone operator joined the search two days later.

Scanning the building from above, the drone picked up what no one could easily see from the street: Ellbie, trapped high on a ledge of the Lighthouse building on Howard Avenue. She was alive, but stranded about 40 metres above the ground.

Fire and Rescue NSW crews were called in, and the search quickly became a vertical rescue. With the dog trapped so high above ground and no safe access from inside the building, the operation required precision, patience and calm under pressure.

Below, locals and those involved in the search waited as crews worked carefully around the frightened dog, knowing one wrong movement could startle her. The rescue unfolded over three tense hours.

The rescue was slow and deliberate until a firefighter descended towards the ledge, secured Ellbie with a lead, and brought her away from the edge. After days of uncertainty, the small dog was finally back in safe hands. She was later taken to a nearby veterinary clinic for assessment, where she was reported to be in good condition despite her ordeal.

Ellbie’s carer, who had been looking after the dog while his parents were overseas, described the experience as overwhelming, with relief replacing days of uncertainty as soon as rescuers made contact.

Fire and Rescue NSW crews involved in the operation described it as a “remarkable” rescue, highlighting both the risks involved and the importance of community awareness in locating the dog.

By the end of the day, what began as a puzzling disappearance had turned into a story of collective vigilance, skilled rescue and a small dog whose survival captured the attention — and hearts — of an entire community.

Published 28-April-2026

Local Gluten-Free Café Wins Big at National Dairy Awards

V’s Dessert Gluten Free/Facebook

V’s Dessert Gluten Free has won four gold medals and the National Champion title in the Dairy Dessert, Custard or Mousse category at the 2026 Sydney Royal Cheese and Dairy Produce Show, the country’s most prestigious dairy competition, in its very first year of entering.

Founder Vivian Wang entered four flavours of her handcrafted gluten-free basque cheesecakes, including original, rose honey pistachio, blueberry and coffee, against entries from some of Australia’s most established producers.

Every single one came home with gold. The original basque cheesecake then went further, taking the National Champion trophy for its category from a field that required a gold medal just to be in contention.

“It was our first year entering, and we genuinely did not expect this result,” Wang said. “Competing alongside some of Australia’s best producers made the recognition even more meaningful.”

A Competition with a Long History

The Sydney Royal Cheese and Dairy Produce Show is not a gimmick. The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW has been running dairy judging since 1858, making it one of the longest-running food competitions in the country. The show operates in its current comprehensive format since 1994 and now spans 94 classes across cheese, milk, yoghurt, butter, ice cream and dairy desserts, with over 600 exhibits assessed by a national panel of food and dairy specialists.

*Photo Credit: V’s Dessert Gluten Free/Facebook*

Every product is scored out of 20 on presentation, aroma, flavour, texture and body. Gold, silver and bronze medals go to entries that meet specific benchmark standards, and only gold medal winners advance to compete for one of sixteen champion trophies. It is a two-stage hurdle, and Wang cleared both in the one run.

Chair of Judges Tiffany Beer described the competition as an opportunity for producers to benchmark their products and receive independent expert feedback, whether presenting something innovative or a home-grown classic.

The 2026 champion in the overall cheese category was Riverine Blue from Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese in Victoria, a repeat winner. Among the other champions in the show were a buffalo cream butter, an olive oil, honey, lemon and thyme ice-cream, and a khajoor (date) flavoured milk. Wang’s cheesecake stood alongside those names as one of 16 national champions across Australia’s dairy industry.

From a Fine Dining Kitchen to a Gluten-Free Café on Francis Street

Wang’s path to Francis Street runs through years of professional kitchen work, a pandemic and a conviction that gluten-free desserts had been done badly for long enough.

She trained as a pastry chef and spent years working in fine dining, drawn to the precision and elegance of dessert work. When COVID closed restaurants and she found herself baking at home, she started experimenting with gluten-free formulations, motivated in part by wanting to help people who had limited access to genuinely good sweet options.

“Desserts allowed me the time to go at a slower pace and work with perfection and precision,” Wang said. “The plating, the prep work, the elegance, it suited me perfectly.”

“When lockdowns hit and restaurants closed, I started experimenting at home and I realised there was a huge gap for genuinely good gluten-free desserts. I wanted to help people and I have the skills and knowledge, so I thought, why not give it a go.”

The café opened on Francis Street in September 2024. Wang’s philosophy from the start was that gluten-free should not feel like a compromise. The texture, the balance, the flavour had to come first, and the absence of gluten had to be incidental rather than the point.

“These desserts aren’t replacements, they just naturally happen to be gluten free,” she said. “We bake in small batches using high-quality ingredients and Australian dairy. Gluten free should never feel like a compromise. Texture, balance and flavour always come first.”

A Cheesecake Unlike the Rest

For anyone unfamiliar with the style, a basque cheesecake is defined by a deliberately caramelised, almost burnt top crust and an interior that is soft, creamy and custard-like rather than firm and sliceable. The name comes from the Basque Country in northern Spain, where the style originated and spread globally over the past two decades.

The deliberate caramelisation is the key. Where a classic New York cheesecake aims for a pale, smooth surface, a basque cheesecake goes into a very hot oven without a water bath, allowing the top to colour deeply while the centre stays just barely set. The result is a combination of bittersweet caramel and rich, yielding cream cheese that is unlike anything a traditional cheesecake produces.

Wang’s four competition entries, original, rose honey pistachio, blueberry and coffee, are all available at the café now.

Visit V’s Dessert Gluten Free

V’s Dessert Gluten Free is at Shop 22/2b Francis Street, Dee Why, on the corner of Redman Road. The café is open Thursday to Sunday from 8.30am, with closing times varying. Follow the café on Instagram and Facebook for updates on seasonal flavours, hours and new menu items.

Published 26-April-2026

Dee Why Pilot Leads Shift As Food Waste Collection Expands With Burgundy Bins

Photo Credit: Pexels

A food waste collection trial involving households in Dee Why has entered a new stage, with results from the suburb’s initial phase informing the rollout of a separate burgundy bin system across parts of the Northern Beaches.

Dee Why Trial Lays Groundwork For Next Stage

Around 1,700 households in Dee Why and Cromer took part in the first phase of the pilot, trialling a system where food scraps were placed into existing green bins alongside garden waste.

Participants used kitchen caddies and compostable liners to separate food waste before adding it to their regular garden bin collection, allowing the material to be processed into compost for agricultural use.

The initial phase ran from late October 2025 to March 2026, with approximately 330 tonnes of combined food and garden waste collected and recycled. The experience gathered during this stage is now being used to guide the next phase of the program.

food waste collection — *Photo Credit: Pexels*

Burgundy Bins Introduced In Phase Two

The second phase will run from 21 April to 2 September 2026, introducing a different collection method for selected households in Terrey Hills, Fairlight and Manly Vale.

Participants in these areas are trialling a dedicated burgundy bin for food waste only, supported by kitchen caddies and compostable liners to assist with separation at home. Food waste collected through this system will be processed into compost and other agricultural feedstock.

The burgundy bins will be collected weekly on the usual collection day, with other bin services continuing as normal.

Testing Systems Across Different Households

The pilot includes a mix of housing types, from standalone homes to unit blocks, to assess how each system performs in different living environments.

Performance during the trial will be measured through participation rates, contamination levels, waste audits and supplier feedback. These findings will help determine how effectively the system operates across the area.

The pilot is intended to help shape a practical and environmentally responsible service suited to different household types.

Dee Why Trial Supports Broader Waste Reduction

The Dee Why trial forms part of ongoing efforts to reduce the amount of food waste sent to landfill. Food waste makes up a significant portion of household rubbish, and diverting it for processing can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while extending landfill capacity.

Households receiving a residual waste collection service across New South Wales are required to be provided with a food organics and garden organics collection service by 2030. The outcomes of the Northern Beaches pilot will help shape how that service is delivered locally.

As the program continues, the experience gained from Dee Why and other pilot areas is expected to inform a long-term food waste system focused on improving waste recovery.

Published 18-Apr-2026

Dee Why Lagoon Named One of NSW’s Most Microplastic-Contaminated Waterways

Dee Why Lagoon has been identified as one of the most microplastic-contaminated coastal waterways in New South Wales, according to a landmark three-year study that sampled 120 catchments from the Tweed River to the Victorian border.

Read: Dee Why Lagoon Named Microplastic Hotspot in Seven-Year Sydney Waterways Study

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water conducted the Broadscale Microplastic Assessment, which measured microplastic concentration in the top 15 centimetres of surface water across the state. It is the first study of its kind undertaken in Australia.

Dee Why Lagoon ranked second on the list of the state’s ten most-affected sites, behind only the Cooks River. Also in the top ten were Muddy Creek, Toongabbie Creek (upper Parramatta River), Throsby Creek, Coffs Creek, South West Rocks Creek, Manly Lagoon, the Parramatta River, and Middle Harbour Creek.

Dee Why Lagoon wildlife refuge (Photo credit: Google Maps/Brett Gardiner)

The assessment identified more than 31,000 plastic particles across all sampled sites, including foam packaging and plastic pellets, known as nurdles, which researchers classified as priority microplastics because their sources can be identified and addressed.

Microplastics were detected in every single waterway sampled, from urban centres to regional and remote catchments. NSW EPA chief executive Tony Chappel said the findings demonstrated the widespread nature of plastic contamination, with no geographic boundaries.

Mr Chappel described microplastics as one of the fastest-emerging threats to marine life and the environment, noting they typically wash from land into rivers and eventually out to sea via stormwater drains. He said the study was the first to sample 120 catchments across the state to identify the most-affected sites, the types of microplastics present, and where authorities could make the greatest impact.

The EPA said the data would be used to develop models of pollution sources and pathways, with particular attention to the Cooks River and Manly Lagoon, where authorities plan to trace how litter moves from streets through waterways to the ocean. Mr Chappel said the aim was to pinpoint sources and direct action where it would count most.

He added that the findings would be used to work with water managers on local solutions and to strengthen policies aimed at keeping microplastics out of NSW ecosystems.

The state’s least-contaminated waterways were found to be Myall Lake, Nadgee Lake, Middle Lagoon, Myall Broadwater and Wallaga Lake, all located on the state’s north and south coasts, away from major population centres.

The NSW Government said it is already pursuing a range of measures to curb plastic pollution, including stepped-up compliance activity around existing plastic bans, community awareness campaigns, and grants directed at litter prevention.

Read: Preserving Dee Why Lagoon: A Century-Long Fight for Nature in the Suburbs

The Broadscale Microplastic Assessment is intended to guide where state authorities focus further research and on-the-ground action in the years ahead.

Published 12-April-2026

St Luke’s Grammar Dee Why Leads Northern Beaches Schools in E-Bike Safety ID Tag Program

EBSA

St Luke’s Grammar School in Dee Why has introduced e-bike student ID tags for senior students who ride to school, requiring riders to complete a two-hour online safety course and pass a road rules quiz with a perfect score before receiving a numbered tag linked to their name and attached to their e-bike.

The program, delivered by E-Bike Safety Australia (EBSA), is now running at St Luke’s in Dee Why and The Forest High School at Allambie Heights, making the Northern Beaches an early adopter of a school-based e-bike accountability model that has been piloted across schools in Sydney’s south, the Illawarra and the NSW far north coast.

For the Dee Why community, where the volume of students riding e-bikes to school has grown sharply over the past two years, the program provides a practical local response to a challenge that residents, parents and schools across the peninsula have been grappling with.

How the Program Works

Each EBSA ID tag carries a unique prefix that identifies the rider’s school, allowing any member of the public who witnesses unsafe riding to contact the school directly and quote the tag number. The school then manages the response under its own student wellbeing and safety policies. EBSA itself does not store ID tag data or identify riders by tag number as only the school holds that information.

Before receiving a tag, students must complete an online safety course covering road rules, helmet use, battery safety, riding etiquette and emergency procedures. Upon successful completion, each rider receives a digital licence and the visible school-specific ID tag for their bike.

The source brief confirms students must achieve 100 per cent on the final quiz before the tag and digital licence are issued, and the tag must be attached to the e-bike whenever the student rides in school uniform. St Luke’s also encourages students to keep their tags on their bikes on weekends.

At St Luke’s, principal Geoff Lancaster confirmed 40 students had already received their ID tags at the time of the official program launch, with another 50 from the school’s 1,200-student population having applied. The school has not yet received a public complaint about a tagged rider, though principal Lancaster acknowledged that as more students join the program, incidents will inevitably occur, describing the program’s response mechanism as a proportionate and educational one rather than punitive.

Why E-Bike Numbers Are Rising and Why It Matters

E-bike sales in NSW have grown from under 10,000 in 2017 to an estimated 760,000 e-bikes currently in circulation across the state, a scale of growth that has outpaced both regulation and safety education. On the Northern Beaches, that growth is visible in the daily movement of students riding to school along shared paths, footpaths and roads that were not designed for the volume or speed of modern e-bikes.

As far back as 2022, local schools were approaching community authorities seeking safety resources for students riding e-bikes to school, with many young riders observed not wearing helmets correctly, carrying passengers and riding at high speeds. A community awareness campaign launched in 2024 reached more than 2.78 million views, reflecting the scale of public concern about e-bike behaviour in the area.

Under current NSW law, legal e-bikes must be pedal-assisted, limited to 250 watts of continuous rated power following a December 2025 regulatory change, and must not exceed 25 kilometres per hour under motor assistance alone. Riders under 16 may legally ride on footpaths. The legal framework does not currently require a licence, registration or any demonstrated knowledge of road rules to ride an e-bike, which is the gap the EBSA school program directly addresses at a local level.

What the Program Teaches

The online safety course covers helmet use, battery safety, road rules, riding etiquette and emergency procedures, giving students a structured introduction to the responsibilities that come with riding a motorised vehicle in shared public spaces. For students at St Luke’s, those who have completed the program describe the training as comparable in content and seriousness to the learner driver test, covering the same road rules that motorists must know and applying them specifically to the e-bike context.

The program’s accountability mechanism, the visible ID tag and the school’s authority to withdraw riding privileges, gives the safety education practical weight. A student who rides recklessly near the school or along local footpaths and paths can be identified, reported and counselled or suspended from riding to school, providing a consequence that purely educational messaging cannot deliver on its own.

Growing Use of E-Bikes Among Students

Dee Why sits at the confluence of several busy cycling and riding routes, and its schools draw students from across a wide northern catchment who increasingly choose e-bikes as their primary mode of getting to and from school. The introduction of the EBSA program at St Luke’s Grammar places Dee Why among the first Northern Beaches suburbs to move from general community concern about e-bike behaviour into a structured, school-based accountability response.

E-Bike Safety Australia is currently in discussions with Narrabeen Sports High School about adopting the program, and further Northern Beaches schools are expected to follow as the model proves its effectiveness. Schools, families or community members wanting more information about the EBSA school program can visit ebikesafetyaustralia.com.au.

Published 30-March-2026.

Dee Why Man Among Five Charged Over Alleged Transnational Ketamine Syndicate

Photo Credit: NSW Police Public Site

A Dee Why drug syndicate arrest has put the Northern Beaches in the spotlight this week, after a 30-year-old local man was taken into custody as part of a sweeping police operation that has seen five men charged over the alleged importation of 30 kilograms of ketamine into Australia.

The arrests are the result of Strike Force Lupin, a joint investigation led by the NSW Police State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad and the NSW Crime Commission. The strike force was set up to probe the activities of transnational organised crime networks with links to south-east Asia.

According to police, the operation began to unfold in mid-February when a shipment arrived in Melbourne from England. The consignment — falsely declared as car parts — allegedly concealed 30 kilograms of ketamine. A 54-year-old man is alleged to have travelled from England to collect the delivery, taking possession of it in late February before making his way to Canberra, where two other men allegedly received the drugs and transported them to an address at Stanhope Gardens in Greater Western Sydney.

The 54-year-old subsequently returned to Melbourne, where he was arrested at a Mentone address on the morning of Thursday 12 March 2026 with the help of Victoria Police. He appeared before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court that same day, and was brought to Sydney following extradition proceedings. Taken to Mascot Police Station, he was charged with importing and trafficking a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, and was refused bail at Bail Division Local Court 7 on Saturday 14 March. He is next due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on 7 May 2026.

Detectives then executed search warrants at a number of Sydney addresses, including one at Dee Why, as the investigation widened.

On the morning of Tuesday 17 March 2026, strike force officers moved simultaneously across several locations. The Dee Why man — aged 30 — was arrested and taken to Manly Police Station, where he was charged with supply of a prohibited drug in a quantity equal to or greater than a large commercial amount, and participating in a criminal group to contribute to criminal activity. He faced Manly Local Court that day, was refused bail, and will next appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday 12 May 2026.

At the same time, a 30-year-old man was arrested at Stanhope Gardens and later charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, as well as knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group. He was refused bail and is due in Penrith Local Court on 15 May 2026. A 29-year-old man arrested in Blacktown was charged with participating in a criminal group and was granted conditional bail, with a court date set for Blacktown Local Court on 13 April 2026. A 37-year-old man arrested in Lidcombe faced similar charges to others in the group and was also refused bail, with his matter listed at Burwood Local Court on 13 May 2026.

Detective Superintendent Peter Faux emphasised that tackling networks of this scale requires a coordinated approach across agencies and jurisdictions, noting that collaboration is essential to disrupting not just individual offenders but the criminal infrastructure that sustains them.

Strike Force Lupin’s inquiries are continuing. Anyone with information that may assist investigators is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. All information is treated in strict confidence.

Published 19-March-2026

Dee Why Public Safety Round-Up: March 7–13 Incidents

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Emergency services responded to a series of incidents across Dee Why during the period, based on reports received by police, fire crews, ambulance services and utility authorities.

Fire Response

At approximately 3:30pm on Saturday, 7 March, Fire and Rescue NSW crews from Dee Why attended a fire alarm at an apartment building on Redman Road. The alarm had been activated by smoke coming from a barbecue on the balcony of a unit.

Disorderly Behaviour

NSW Police attended several incidents involving intoxicated individuals. At around 7:00pm and again at 8:45pm on Saturday, 7 March, officers were called to Howard Avenue to assist separate individuals.

On Monday, 9 March at about 7:00pm, police responded to a similar report on Pittwater Road.
At approximately 4:30am on Wednesday, 11 March, officers attended another incident involving an intoxicated person on Pittwater Road.

Later that evening at around 9:30pm, police received reports of a group of youths behaving in a disorderly manner near Oaks Avenue.

Assaults

At approximately 4:30pm on Monday, 9 March, police were called to a report of an assault on Oaks Avenue. At around 10:00pm on Wednesday, 11 March, officers responded to reports of youths fighting at Pacific Parade.

Traffic Incidents

At about 8:00pm on Monday, 9 March, police and firefighters attended a crash on Oaks Avenue where a taxi collided with two parked vehicles. The driver had left the scene but was later located nearby. He declined a breath test, stating he had consumed alcohol after returning home. He was released without charge pending further inquiries.

Another vehicle collision was reported at approximately 3:00pm on Friday, 13 March on Oaks Avenue, with police attending.

Theft Reports

Police investigated a break-in reported shortly after 8:00pm on Tuesday, 10 March at a property on South Creek Road.

Later that evening, just before 9:00pm, officers received a separate report of property stolen from a vehicle parked on the same street.

Rescue Operation

At approximately 10:00am on Wednesday, 11 March, Fire and Rescue NSW crews were called to Dee Why RSL Club on Pittwater Road to assist a person trapped inside a lift. The individual was released.

Infrastructure Hazard

Shortly before 9:30pm on Thursday, 12 March, Sydney Water attended McIntosh Road to repair a ruptured water main. One lane of the road was closed during the repair works.

Medical Emergency

At around 3:00pm on Friday, 13 March, police and NSW Ambulance responded to Pacific Parade following reports of a man behaving erratically. The 57-year-old fell and struck his head. He was treated at the scene for a suspected neurological condition and transported to Royal North Shore Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Further inquiries were continuing into the taxi crash on Oaks Avenue, while other incidents were recorded by authorities during the period.

Published 14-Mar-2026

Dee Why Public Safety Round-Up: 14–20 February 2026 Incidents

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Emergency services attended a series of traffic, medical and public order incidents across Dee Why between 14 and 20 February 2026, based on reports received by NSW Police and other responding agencies.

Traffic Incidents

5:30am, Saturday 14 February
NSW Police, NSW Ambulance and Fire and Rescue NSW crews from Dee Why Station responded to a crash on Pittwater Road where a vehicle struck another car before coming to rest on the footpath. A 41-year-old man was located inside in a semi-conscious condition, with suspected intoxication noted. He was transported in a stable condition to Northern Beaches Hospital for mandatory drug and alcohol testing.

12:45pm, Tuesday 17 February
Police and paramedics attended a collision at Kingsway near Westminster Avenue involving a silver 2003 Holden Astra and an e-bike rider. The rider, a woman in her 50s, sustained a leg injury and was taken to Northern Beaches Hospital in a stable condition.

Medical And Injury Responses

10:30am, Sunday 15 February
NSW Ambulance, assisted by NSW Police and the CareFlight Rescue Helicopter, responded to a report of a six-month-old girl experiencing an allergic reaction at Pacific Parade. After assessment near James Meehan Reserve, the infant was transported by road to Northern Beaches Hospital in a stable condition.

10:30am, Sunday 15 February
Surf Life Saving NSW Dee Why patrol requested ambulance assistance after a man dislocated his shoulder in the surf. Paramedics treated and relocated the shoulder at the scene.

5:15pm, Thursday 19 February
NSW Ambulance attended St David Avenue near Dee Why Library after a 17-year-old girl was reported unconscious following a fall from a vehicle in a nearby car park. She was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Rescue

3:00pm, Saturday 14 February
Police and firefighters assisted with the safe release of a child locked inside a public toilet at Walter Gors Park on Howard Avenue.

Public Order And Property Reports

8:15pm, Sunday 15 February
Police received a report of youths throwing eggs at vehicles along Oaks Avenue.

8:45pm, Sunday 15 February
Police and NSW Ambulance responded to reports of a man collapsed on the pavement at Howard Avenue. The 26-year-old was described as intoxicated and became agitated when approached. Police restrained him after he allegedly reached toward an officer’s firearm. He was taken to Northern Beaches Hospital for treatment and mental health assessment.

9:15pm, Sunday 15 February
Police received a report of property damage at Oaks Avenue.

6:00pm, Monday 16 February
Police were notified of a group of youths behaving in a disorderly manner near Howard Avenue.

7:45pm, Tuesday 17 February
Police received a report of a group of youths gathered near Pittwater Road.

4:30pm, Thursday 19 February
Police were notified of disorderly behaviour involving youths near Oaks Avenue.

7:30am, Friday 20 February
Police received a report of property vandalism at Pittwater Road.

5:30pm, Friday 20 February
Police were notified of suspected drug-related activity at Fisher Road.

8:00pm and 10:00pm, Friday 20 February
Police received further reports of disorderly youths gathered near Oaks Avenue.

These matters were recorded by responding authorities during the reporting period.

Published 21-Feb-2026

Dee Why Public Safety Round-Up: 31 January to 5 February Incidents

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Police and emergency crews responded to a number of unrelated call-outs across Dee Why from Saturday, 31 January to Thursday, 5 February, based on reports received by authorities.

Theft

Just before 1:45am on Saturday, 31 January, NSW Police received a report that items had been stolen from a vehicle parked on Wheeler Parade, Dee Why. Police inquiries are continuing.

Fire Responses

Shortly after 10:45am on Saturday, 31 January, Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Dee Why Station attended a fire alarm at Fisher Road, Dee Why. Firefighters found no sign of fire and used a thermal imaging camera to check the ceiling space. A faulty heat detector was replaced and the alarm system was reset.

Later that day, shortly before 10:30pm, NSW Police and FRNSW Dee Why Station responded to a fire alarm at Tor Road, Dee Why. Residents reported hearing a loud bang from an oven range hood. Firefighters located a fire in the range hood and extinguished it using a CO₂ fire extinguisher. The range hood and ducting were removed and the ceiling space was checked with thermal imaging to confirm there was no spread.

Assault And Disorderly Behaviour

Just before 2:00am on Sunday, 1 February, NSW Police were called to Palara Place, Dee Why, after a fight was reported.

Just after 2:00am, police received a further report of disorderly youths gathering near Grafton Crescent, Dee Why.

Shortly after 9:00pm on Sunday, 1 February, police attended Pittwater Road, Dee Why, to assist a person reported to be intoxicated.

Just after 10:15pm on Wednesday, 4 February, police were again called to assist an intoxicated person at Kingsway, Dee Why.

Injury Incidents

Just after 4:00pm on Sunday, 1 February, NSW Police and NSW Ambulance responded to an e-bike crash on Griffin Road, Dee Why, near Banksia Street. Paramedics located the 15-year-old female rider in the gutter and assessed her for a potentially serious head injury.

The Toll NSW Ambulance Rescue Helicopter was requested and landed at John Fisher Park, Abbott Road, North Curl Curl, just before 5:00pm. The rider was placed into an induced coma and transported to Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, in a critical condition.

Just before 10:00pm on Thursday, 5 February, NSW Police and NSW Ambulance attended a home on Delmar Parade, Dee Why, following a report that a woman had fallen down a flight of stairs. Paramedics assessed the 63-year-old woman for a serious head injury.

The Toll NSW Ambulance Rescue Helicopter was tasked from Bankstown and landed at Reub Hudson Oval, Abbott Road, North Curl Curl. The woman was placed into an induced coma, taken to the oval, and then transported to Royal North Shore Hospital by road in a critical condition, with a police escort and green-light corridor.

Hazard

Just after 6:00am on Monday, 2 February, FRNSW Dee Why Station attended Pittwater Road, Dee Why, near Oaks Avenue, after a light pole was reported to have come down in strong winds. A vehicle was damaged, but no injuries were reported. Ausgrid attended to repair the pole and wiring, and two northbound lanes were affected.

Death

Just after 6:00am on Tuesday, 3 February, NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, and firefighters from Dee Why and Narrabeen stations were called to Dee Why Beach, about 200 metres north of the surf club, after a man was found unresponsive on the sand. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful and he was declared deceased just after 6:45am.

Police inquiries are continuing into the reported theft, and the remaining incidents were attended and managed by responding services as reported.

Published 6-Feb-2026

Body Found at Dee Why Beach, Not Linked to Maroubra Search

Photo Credit: Anton Leddin

Emergency services responded to Dee Why Beach early this morning after a body was found washed ashore around 6am on Tuesday, 3 February.

Northern Beaches Police have confirmed the discovery and established that the death does not appear to be shark-related. Authorities have also ruled out any connection to the missing swimmer from Maroubra, who disappeared on Sunday whilst in the water with friends.

The missing man, aged in his thirties, was last seen at Maroubra Beach on Sunday. Eastern Beaches Police Area Command has continued coordinating search efforts involving local police, Marine Area Command, Surf Life Saving and the LifeSaver21 helicopter.

Strong southerly winds overnight had initially raised questions about whether the body might belong to the missing swimmer. However, police have since confirmed the two incidents are unrelated.

Yesterday’s search efforts at Bondi were hampered by heavy seas, but operations resumed at 8am this morning with the same resources deployed.

The identity of the deceased found at Dee Why has not yet been confirmed. Police are working to formally identify the individual and have indicated they will provide official notification once identification is complete.

Members of the public who may have information are encouraged to contact Northern Beaches Police.

Published 3-February-2026