Residents living around Terrigal and Wamberal lagoons have appealed to Central Coast Council for more community consultation before any further action is taken on a seawall proposed for Wamberal.
Council’s Catchments to Coast Committee reported in March that Council staff have been working with the Wamberal Protection Association (WPA) residents group to progress a seawall development application, with Council to enter into an agreement with WPA as a partnering landowner on Wamberal Beach.
The Save our Sand group has been vocal in encouraging objections to the proposal and now lagoon residents have entered the fray.
Bundarra Ave residents Tania and Peter, who do not want their surnames made public, say hundreds of people living near both lagoons will be severely impacted if the seawall proceeds.
“Our homes get impacted whenever there is a huge downpour and most of us monitor when the Council opens up the beach before expected rainfall,” Tania said.
“Generally homes on Lakeview Dr and Bundarra Ave have gardens and garages flood (when there is) a huge downpour.
“Some of us cannot get insurance and those that can pay thousands for it.”
Tania said a seawall would further exacerbate these flooding issues.
“With a vertical seawall, there is nowhere for the water to go but to the ends of wall – the point of least resistance,” she said.
“At Wamberal, this would see significant water rise at both Terrigal and Wamberal lagoons, at either end of the wall.
“Yet we have not heard from or been consulted by Council on the potential impact on the lagoon environment from a seawall.”
Tania said more than 200 homes could face flooding.
“There are more of these homes than those that the association is looking to protect on the beachfront,” she said.
“The homes currently situated on the beach dunes should never have been built in the first place and Council continues to allow larger two-to-three storey homes to be built on these dunes which is grossly irresponsible.
“Some of the lagoon residents have lived there for 34 years or more.
“Further consideration and consultation is necessary before a final solution is approved.
“There are other options including marshes and living shorelines and rock walls that allow the sand to replenish naturally (as opposed to the concrete walls which kill natural dune processes).
“The lagoon residents demand that Council consult us with regards to what is proposed (and act) only after an environmental impact study is done in relation to the impact on both the Terrigal and Wamberal lagoon environments.
“(We also demand) that more sustainable solutions be sought to mitigate irreversible damage to hundreds of homes/residents, the Wamberal beach and lagoon environments and the Wamberal/Terrigal tourism industry.”
Tania said she had met with Federal Member for Robertson Gordon Reid, who had undertaken to collate any letters of opposition sent to his office.
Tania said the situation was very different to that at other beaches where seawalls had been erected, including Collaroy, in that the beach is flanked by two lagoons.
Meanwhile, SOS continues to call for a halt on any action regarding a seawall until the Central Coast has an elected Council, late next year.
The group has suggested on its Facebook page that concerned residents should email relevant State Ministers urging them to stop any previously consented private seawalls; prioritise natural dune stabilisation and sand nourishment; and listen to and act on the advice of beach experts.
“Only by working together can we save Wamberal Beach and protect hundreds of lagoon residences,” the post says.
Terry Collins