Central Coast Council has been awarded close to $1M to help fund emergency coastal protection works at Wamberal Beach, following storms which decimated the coastline and saw beachfront homes evacuated in July.
Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said the NSW Government is working in close partnership with Council to respond to the immediate erosion crisis at Wamberal and develop a long term solution in line with community expectations.
“Following July’s severe erosion, a number of public and private assets along Ocean View Dr were destabilised,” Hancock said.
“With Wamberal declared a Significant Open Coast Location, I encouraged Council to apply for funding to implement actions in its Coastal Zone Management Plan as a matter of urgency.
“I am pleased to announce that Council has been awarded $992,501 under the NSW Government’s Coastal and Estuary Grants program.
“Managing coastal hazards is a priority for this Government and the Coastal and Estuary Grants Program provides funding to councils to address their emergency coastal issues.”
Emergency works undertaken at Wamberal included engineering designs for emergency protection measures, removing contaminated material, and placing around 4,000 tonnes of sand, 2300 tonnes of quarried rock and 1100 tonnes of rock-filled flexible bags on the beach.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, said the coastal erosion in July highlighted the vulnerability of the area and the urgent need for Council to plan and deliver a long term solution.
“The NSW Government moved swiftly to establish a Taskforce to help Council develop a range of options for community consideration,” Crouch said.
“While Council is the statutory authority for this location, we’ll continue to work with Council to drive a long term solution.”
A second Council application for emergency works at the Entrance North was not awarded funding as it does not meet the program’s guidelines.
For emergency work to be eligible for program funding, it needs to be identified in a certified Coastal Zone Management Plan, Emergency Action Sub-Plan or Coastal Management Program for the area.
Source:
Media release, Nov 19
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch