Northern Beaches Launches 2026-2031 Community Safety Action Plan

Northern Beaches Council put its new Community Safety Action Plan 2026-2031 into effect on 14 August, and it will not need public exhibition or a formal adoption vote to change. The plan is an operational document covering suburbs from Palm Beach to Manly, and it can be updated as local safety priorities shift over the next five years.

The plan follows 12 months of research, community feedback and lived experience gathered after the previous 2021-2026 Community Safety Plan. Earlier work delivered a review of alcohol restrictions in public spaces, awareness campaigns on elder abuse, scams, fraud and online safety, and regular Public Transport Safety Meetings. It also established the Northern Beaches LGBTQ+ Working Group, a foundation the new plan carries forward.

The area the plan covers is not small. Northern Beaches is home to more than 266,000 people and takes in more than half of Sydney’s beaches. That coastal setting shapes the safety work, from managing busy public spaces near Narrabeen Lagoon to supporting older residents who may be targeted by scammers.

Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said the plan treats safety as a shared responsibility across the community and partner agencies.

“Community safety is everyone’s responsibility. Creating a safe Northern Beaches relies on the shared efforts of people who live, work and visit our area. It’s not just about physical protection, but also about belonging, connection and inclusion at every level, from the individual to the collective,” Mayor Heins said.

“The Northern Beaches is predominantly a safe place to live, work and visit and we’re committed to building and maintaining community safety by undertaking regular reviews,” she said.

Not all feedback was abstract. A Facebook community group discussion during the engagement period singled out lighting, transportation options and e-bike use as factors shaping how safe people feel. Despite those concerns, 74 per cent of respondents to the council’s YourSay consultation supported the draft plan either outright or with changes.

The plan centres on four focus areas: supporting every community member, particularly people with diverse needs and backgrounds, to participate confidently; strengthening belonging; improving safety and wellbeing; and connecting coordinated services. It aligns with the Better Together Social Sustainability Strategy 2040 and the Community Strategic Plan 2040.

Mayor Heins said the council works with NSW Police, the Department of Communities and Justice, NSW Health, Transport for NSW and local service providers to direct resources where they are needed most. That coordination is the practical spine of the plan, because safety outcomes rely on agencies beyond the council alone.

Unlike five-year plans in some other Sydney councils that follow rigid adoption cycles, this plan can be adjusted without mandatory public exhibition. It also builds on measurable prior achievements, including the LGBTQ+ Working Group, rather than starting from scratch.

Residents and visitors who want to understand how the plan affects their suburb can read the full document and the Community Safety Insights Paper on the Northern Beaches Council website. If transport or inclusion is a concern, attending a Public Transport Safety Meeting or contributing to future feedback opportunities is the most direct way to influence the next update.

Public transport and active travel remain part of the focus through those safety meetings, although the plan announcement does not list specific routes. For services serving Manly and other Northern Beaches hubs, travellers should check Transport for NSW.

For a practical day out tied to the plan’s connection goals, North Narrabeen Beach and the Narrabeen Lagoon Trail offer accessible coastal spaces for walking and meeting others. The council website has details on any local activations supporting wellbeing and inclusion.

The five-year term runs from 14 August. Because the plan is operational, the next change could come quietly and quickly, without a public exhibition cycle, as soon as community needs make it necessary.