Collaroy, New South Wales

Collaroy Sydney, New South Wales
A view of Collaroy from Collaroy Plateau
Population	13,167
Postcode(s)	2097
Location	22 km (14 mi) north-east of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	Warringah Council
State electorate(s)	Wakehurst
Federal division(s)	Mackellar
Suburbs around Collaroy: Belrose Narrabeen Cromer Collaroy Tasman Sea Dee Why Dee Why

Collaroy is a suburb in northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Collaroy is located 22 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Warringah Council and part of the Northern Beaches region. Collaroy Plateau is a locality in the western part of the suburb.

To the north is the suburb of Narrabeen, to the east is the Tasman Sea, to the south is Dee Why, and to the west is Cromer.

Landmarks

Collaroy is well known for its excellent surf beach which joins with Narrabeen Beach at Wetherill Street. Essentially one continuous 3.4km surf beach, the distinct suburb names are due to Collaroy beach being in the Warringah Shire local government area, and Narrabeen beach being in the Pittwater local government area. Although popular with tourists, Collaroy/Narrabeen Beach is mainly frequented by residents and local people. The great length of the beach results in absence of crowding. Four Surf Lifesaving Clubs provide swimming supervision/surf rescue services (North Narrabeen SLC, Narrabeen SLC, South Narrabeen SLC, and Collaroy SLC). Public car parks are located at Narrabeen and Collaroy.

History

Collaroy is an Aboriginal word meaning long reeds.

Originally, this area was part of Narrabeen but was renamed for the collier Collaroy which ran aground on the beach in 1881 during a storm. [1] It was refloated and later wrecked on the Californian coast in 1889.

Collaroy has developed vigorously since the mid twentieth century.

Commercial Area

Collaroy's shopping precinct is centred along Pittwater Road, which runs north-south through the suburb. The suburb is well serviced by local small businesses such as food and retail (restaurants, butchers, fruit-shops), furniture and renovation shopfronts, and automotive and home services. Major facilities nearby include Pittwater House school, Warringah Mall (Brookvale), Warriewood Square (Warriewood), Woolworths (Wellington Street Narrabeen) Mona Vale Hospital, Narrabeen Ambulance Station, Narrabeen Fire Station, Dee Why Police Station, Collaroy United Cinema, Collaroy Returned Services League Club and the ‘Surf Rock’ Hotel.

Transport

Collaroy's public transport consists of buses operated by Sydney Buses. Routes 182 through 190 run south to the CBD (express services take about 35 minutes) and north to suburbs from Narrabeen to Palm Beach. Route 155 runs south to Manly (from where ferries and JetCats connect with the CBD). There are no train services in the area. Driving to the CBD takes approimately 35 minutes outside of peak periods and 60 minutes during peak.

Property

Collaroy features a mix of modern detached houses and medium density apartment blocks.

Collaroy beach is the most highly capitalised shoreline in the Warringah local government area, featuring absolute beachfront houses and apartments built on the edge of the sand, with no roads or footpaths between them and the beach. Council regulations no longer permit construction of such properties so close to the beach so these pre-existing properties are highly prized. Recent sales of beachfront apartments have fetched $1.4 million and $1.6 million (2005 and 2007). Beachfront houses typically range from $3 million upwards.

The high capitalisation of the shoreline has raised concerns regarding erosion and global warming. Protracted storms combined with king-tides and driving easterly winds have periodically threatened homes, although over the past 70 years, only a handful of houses have been lost (the last one in 1945).

To combat erosion the government has taken a number of steps including:

• Updating emergency management procedures to plan coordinated responses to storm events (identification of properties at risk, placement of protective boulders, and rapid response plans).
• Feasibility studies and public consultations regarding construction of a sea wall.
• Selective purchase of identified ‘at risk’ properties on the voluntary open market, and subsequent demolition into open space – eg: 1 Waterloo Street Narrabeen (purchased for $2,180,000 in April 2005) and 1146 Pittwater Rd Collaroy (purchased for $2,970,000 in July 2005).
• Beach nourishment - natural coastal processes gradually transport sand from Collaroy/Narrabeen beach into the mouth of Narrabeen lagoon. Over a period of years, the lagoon mouth blocks with sand resulting in the lagoon no longer communicating water with the ocean. Approximately every four years, Warringah Council excavates the blocked lagoon and transports the sand back to Collaroy/Narrabeen Beach where it originated from. The sand forms a natural barrier which protects the coast from storm surges.

Should fears of global warming come to pass in the coming half-century, it's likely that either a sea wall or large scale beach nourishment would be adopted to ultimately protect the beach.

Politics

For federal elections, Collaroy is in the seat of Mackellar. The seat is held by Bronwyn Bishop of the Liberal Party. The seat has been held continuously by the Liberals since it was created in 1949.

For NSW state elections, Collaroy is in the seat of Wakehurst. The seat is held by Brad Hazzard of the Liberal Party. See [2].

Local political issues include:

• Erosion of Collaroy beach, due to removal of the sand dunes to create space for beachfront housing.
• Overdevelopment - the replacement of detached houses by apartment blocks, with subsequent increased pressure on local services, roads, and transport.

Animal life

Collaroy is frequented by diverse bird and aquatic animal life including Sea Eagles, Pelicans, Terns, Ducks, Yellow-crested Cockatoo. Dolphins and whales can be seen with the naked eye during migrating season. In 2005 a young New Zealand Fur Seal was discovered washed up on the beach. Exhausted but alive, the Seal was nursed back to health by wildlife officers and then released.

References

• The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Compiled by Frances Pollen, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia ISBN 0-207-14495-8
• About Narrabeen and Collaroy Beaches.