Fears blocked beach access could result in tragedy

Access to The Entrance North Beach is completely blocked with lifesavers unable to reach it in the event of an emergency.

Residents like Scott Laing, whose father Col built The Entrance North Surf Life Saving Club in 1977, said lives could be lost as a result.

A severe weather event in early April saw massive erosion and landslips that, in some places, have taken about 25m of land and left a 6-8m drop down to the beach, meaning lifesavers are unable to gain access in an emergency.

While the focus has been on Wamberal Beach and the rejection of a seawall by Premier Chris Minns, the situation at The Entrance North is dire for the surf club and property owners.

Laing said since regular dredging of the Tuggerah Lake stopped about 10 years ago, the beach had been losing sand which was not being replaced like it was when the dredging program was in place.

“We need the dredge back,” he said.

“We need sand replenishment, flood mitigation, clean ocean water into the lake and a revetment wall.

“When the sand goes, it goes into the lake – we need to get it out of the lake and put it back on the beach.

“After the east coast lows of the past few years and flood events, it just needs a helping hand.

“We need the sand and we need it now, not in five years’ time, so we can get access from the surf club to the beach (and) save kids from drowning in the channel.

“In the event of an emergency I want someone from the State Government to tell me how we’re going to get down on to the beach.”

Long-time resident Paul Green said he and his neighbours were just metres away from disaster and pleas for permission to do emergency works on their own land in a bid to stop further land slippages had fallen on deaf ears.

He said Central Coast Council had not yet responded to a letter sent from an independent coastal engineer on behalf of the residents outlining the need for emergency works.

Green said the combination of the groyne built at The Entrance Channel seven years ago and the sand replenishment program stopping had seen significant erosion.

“There are old photos where people are hand digging the sand out of the channel, it has always needed dredging,” he said.

“Over the past four years, all the sand has gone and it’s not coming back.

“We are metres ways from disaster, my neighbour is probably just one metre away.

“We’re not after handouts, we need a plan and some guidance.

“We need permission to put rocks on our own land to get us out of trouble over the next few years.

“I’m no coastal engineer, but I know when we lose sand, we lose it – unlike Wamberal where the sand stays in the bay.

“The North Entrance peninsula needs to be saved.”

Mel Pirani, a private property manager for a short-term rental home in Hargraves St, which backs onto the beach, agreed the situation was critical.

“In recent times, our coastline has been increasingly vulnerable to severe weather events,” she said.

“Notably, the Central Coast has experienced significant coastal erosion, reminiscent of the devastating impacts observed during the storms of the 2016 east coast low, which caused widespread property damage and led to the evacuation of numerous homes.

“In January this year we lost a metre and a half of the beach and on April 1 we were hit again – this time losing five metres of beach.

“The deck of the property I manage already has significant cracking and if the dune, which is already concave, gives way, the deck will fall off and into the sea.”

Pirani said residents were sick of Central Coast Council “observing the situation” but doing nothing; and state and federal governments steering clear of the problem.

“We want a state emergency declared and we want something done,” she said.

She said all houses along Hargraves St were at risk of being swallowed by the sea.

For owners of rental properties constant erosion was causing financial distress.

Rentals at the home she manages have been put on hold due to the precarious conditions.

A Central Coast Council spokesperson said Council would continue to actively work with the NSW Government, technical experts and the community to develop solutions – advocating for a clear and consistent NSW Government strategy to manage coastal erosion.

“At the peak of the recent severe coastal event, when at its most threatening, Council staff doorknocked those properties under greatest threat, advising residents and owners of the likely risks, including advice if self-evacuation was deemed necessary by the resident,” the spokesperson said.

“If no residents were at the property at the time of doorknocking, a letter outlining the risks was left at the property – with contact numbers for more information.”

The spokesperson said private property landowners can install coastal protection works for their properties with a Development Consent – there is no other legal pathway.

Council is continuing to investigate sandstone blocks placed on the foreshores of The Entrance North without authorisation or approval.

The spokesperson said sand nourishment of the beach from dredging programs directly in front of houses at The Entrance North was undertaken following the 2020 coastal erosion event.

“Future nourishment, associated with future dredging programs within The Entrance Channel may occur, but will be driven by the need to dredge the channel and identifying which foreshores may best benefit from the receipt of that sand.”

The spokesperson said while dredged sand could help to provide greater public safety and amenity, it would not provide a suitable protection for properties against coastal erosion.

“Homeowners are instead encouraged to seek expert coastal engineering advice regarding the design of appropriate coastal protection works,” the spokesperson said.

Denice Barnes and Terry Collins