Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch has made himself available to organise meetings between residents and Central Coast Council over the proposed Wamberal seawall, following a meeting with Save Our Sand (SOS) delegates Corinne and Mark Lamont.
“I am more than happy to facilitate meetings between residents who are concerned about possible end-effects of the proposed seawall on the lagoons and Central Coast Council, as well as make representations on their behalf to Council, which is the authority responsible and the consent authority for the proposed seawall,” Crouch said.
The Lamonts outlined residents’ concerns over the proposed seawall in a recent meeting with Crouch.
They put to Crouch the need for Council to investigate non-wall options and to properly investigate the impacts a proposed seawall would have on the connected Wamberal and Terrigal lagoons.
This includes the likely flooding of hundreds of homes around the lagoons that would be in the firing line of the proposed seawall’s “end effects”.
The Lamonts cited expert advice that a seawall was not the right option for Wamberal Beach or lagoon communities.
The delegates said Crouch reflected on his recent parliamentary questions regarding legal liability around the seawall and conceded that liability could fall on the government if the seawall was found to cause the destruction of lagoon property and amenity.
“Council is not allowed to approve developments that damage or increase risk to others,” he told the delegates.
While Crouch said the seawall was not in his control and he had no influence over decisions, the Lamonts said he had influence and in the public eye was seen as pro-wall.
“There was discussion about Mr Crouch’s role in the formation of the Wamberal Seawall Advisory Taskforce and the extent to which that taskforce influenced Council’s response and actions to advance a seawall at Wamberal Beach,” they said.
“Mr Crouch appeared to express openness to look at alternatives that protect lagoon residents and the lagoons.”
The delegates said differences emerged in the meeting as to what the science was saying about the proposed seawall’s impacts on the beach, but Crouch agreed to write to Council asking it to consult with lagoon residents and experts regarding wall end effects and lagoon flooding risks.
They said Council should not even be thinking of being a co-applicant for a DA when it has not comprehensively studied the impacts such a substantial seawall would have on the flooding of the lagoons that would sit at each end of it.
“Mr Crouch agreed that there was a need for improved Council community consultation,” they said.
SOS is calling on all residents to write to and/or meet with Crouch and write to Council seeking a proper study of the impacts of the proposed Wamberal seawall on the lagoons and is requesting a DA pause until then.
“SOS calls for full transparency from Council as to its current engagement with the Wamberal Protection Association (WPA), including the publication of all WPA-Council meeting minutes,” the delegates said.
They discussed with Crouch a range of options for Wamberal Beach, including a dune stabilising revegetation reset, associated dune re-contouring and sand replenishment work and the opportunity to remove asbestos and ad-hoc illegal walls along the beach.
There was also discussion of potential public-private partnerships that could restore and sustain the beach, address beachfront and lagoon property needs, enhance the natural lagoons and potentially “unlock” the area for ecologically sustainable tourism and local recreation.
Crouch reiterated that it would be highly inappropriate and illegal for him to “influence” any decision making by Council, as it is Council’s responsibility to deal with DAs.
Terry Collins