All levels of government set to discuss Wamberal erosion solution

All levels of government are set to meet to discuss urgent solutions for erosion at Wamberal Beach after NSW Premier Chris Minns ruled out the sale of any State Government owned land to make way for a seawall.

Federal Member for Robertson Dr Gordon Reid said the Premier’s announcement on April 1 was music to the ears of the Wamberal community and surrounding areas.

“For many years, the Save Our Sands movement has been lobbying all levels of government about the dangers of seawalls and a proposed seawall at Wamberal Beach,” Reid said.

“I am ecstatic that the NSW Government has listened to the concerns of our community and will not allow development to occur on government land at Wamberal Beach, effectively torpedoing the proposed seawall plan.”

Reid said the State Government had rejected a seawall due to the significant cost, concerns for the beach and the risk of worsening erosion impacting the broader community while benefiting only private residents.

He said State Spokesperson for Terrigal Mark Buttigieg had written to Federal Minister for the Environment Tanya Plibersek calling for a joint meeting with representatives from all levels of government to urgently discuss options to safeguard the beach.

“The Labor Government has listened to the voices of the community and will not support the building of a seawall at Wamberal,” Buttigieg said.

“The priority must always be the many over the few when it comes to the future of our beaches.

“Beaches are there for all the public to enjoy and that shouldn’t be sacrificed for a small minority of private landowners.

“There are better solutions to sand erosion than an ugly seawall that makes things worse.”

Community advocate Sam Boughton, who campaigned against a seawall as the Labor candidate for the seat of Terrigal at the last State election, said the previous Liberal government had ignored community concerns over the issue.

“Coastal erosion is a national issue,” he said.

“Local, state and federal governments need to work together to create solutions that benefit the whole community and our precious natural spaces.”

The move comes as beachfront homeowners call for urgent action to address the issue.

With Wamberal receiving yet another battering on April 1, Chris Rogers of the Wamberal Protection Association (WPA) said if sand protection was the government’s preferred solution, action needs to be taken immediately.

He said WPA had no intention of dropping its seawall DA efforts “until dredges are located along Wamberal and sand is in place for protection”.