Privacy Policy

Last updated: 9 October 2026

1. Who we are

Beach Finder Australia operates the website beachfinder.com.au ("the Site"). If you have questions about this policy, contact us at beachfinderau@gmail.com.

2. Information we collect

We collect limited information to operate the Site:

• Usage data — pages visited, time on site, browser type, and referring URL, collected automatically via analytics tools.
• Cookies — small files stored in your browser that help us remember your preferences.
• Issue reports — if you submit a beach issue report, we collect the information you provide (beach name, issue type, description, and optional name). This is stored locally in your browser and is not transmitted to our servers.

We do not collect your name, email address, or any personally identifiable information unless you contact us directly.

3. How we use your information

We use collected information to:

• Operate and improve the Site
• Understand how visitors use the Site (analytics)
• Comply with legal obligations

4. Cookies

We use the following types of cookies:

• Essential cookies — required for the Site to function, including remembering your cookie consent preference.
• Analytics cookies — help us understand visitor behaviour in aggregate (no personally identifiable information).

You can decline cookies using the banner shown on your first visit, or by adjusting your browser settings. Note that declining cookies may affect some Site functionality.

5. Advertising

Beach Finder Australia may display advertisements served by third-party ad networks. These networks may use cookies or similar technologies to serve ads relevant to your interests, based on your browsing activity. We do not control the data practices of advertising partners — please refer to their own privacy policies for details.

6. Third-party services

The Site uses the following third-party services that may collect data independently:

• Netlify — website hosting. May collect server logs including IP addresses. See Netlify's Privacy Policy.
• OpenStreetMap / Leaflet — map tiles used for beach location maps. See OpenStreetMap's Privacy Policy.
• Google Analytics — website analytics. See Google's Privacy Policy.

7. Data retention and storage

We do not operate a database of user information. Beach issue reports are stored in your browser's local storage and remain on your device only. Analytics data is retained in aggregate form only.

8. Your rights

Under Australian Privacy Law (Privacy Act 1988) and, where applicable, the GDPR, you have the right to:

• Access personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion of your information
• Withdraw consent to cookie use at any time (via browser settings)
• Lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at beachfinderau@gmail.com.

9. Children's privacy

The Site is not directed at children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top of this page will reflect the most recent update. Continued use of the Site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact

For privacy-related enquiries: beachfinderau@gmail.com