With high tides and heavy rain continuing to pummel the Central Coast this week, beachfront homeowners were left in limbo as Central Coast Council and the State Government continued to explore emergency erosion solutions.
Meetings last week between Council and State government representatives, local officials and MPs focused on what can be done immediately and how quickly it can happen.
A Council spokesperson said all parties are committed to working together on solutions and updates will be provided as further progress is made.
But with no announcement yet on what actions can be taken under the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act, residents say time is running out and the delays are putting homes and public assets at serious risk of going into the drink.
A Stop Work Order was issued on Monday, May 19, as Council rejected a Coastal Protection plan for The Entrance North.
The temporary emergency works, which were designed by a coastal engineer, were to be funded by residents, but residents say the Local Emergency Operations Controller (LEOCON) rejected the plans due to safety and timeline concerns related to the current weather event.
“Here we go again,” one resident said.
“This rollercoaster has to stop.
“Once again, we have had the opportunity to protect our properties snatched away.
“We feel so hopeless as the strong coastal surges come in while we sit and wait for the next catastrophic event.
“We warned them over a month ago.”
On Tuesday, May 20, trucks were turned away from North Entrance Surf Club after the coastal-engineered plans were knocked back by Council and LEOCON.
Residents say they finally received some communication from Council later in the day but it was far from clear and consistent, efficient communication is still urgently needed.
“We’re ready to act; we’ve engaged an experienced Australian coastal engineer but we’re still waiting for a straight answer a week later,” a second resident said.
“We have done what’s been asked but the goal posts keep changing.”
It is understood the temporary emergency protection works which were blocked are now under review to determine whether they can proceed, potentially in conjunction with Council-appointed engineers under Section 124 of the Local Government Act.
The Entrance North Surf Club President Czes Lawicki said the loss of the dune system and infrastructure were limiting access for emergency volunteers in the event of an emergency.
Councillor Trent McWaide assessed The Entrance North area on May 20, describing the impacts of erosion as “devastating”.
“It’s evident the Surf Club needs attention, with a sheer few-metre drop,” he said.
“I was out here a few weeks ago and it’s gotten dramatically worse.
“Residents have lost nearly 30 metres recently, and it’s clear … immediate, medium and long-term solutions need to be found.”
Meanwhile at Wamberal, there have been several reports of more land slippage and bank failures with one house in danger of being undermined and several deemed at risk.
Council works commenced on Saturday at Wamberal with around nine rock bags placed on one property on Ocean View Dr.
“Communication during an emergency event needs to be direct to those immediately impacted,” one resident said.
“We’ve received basic warning letters in some mailboxes but nothing about the intended works.
“There’s continued frustration and angst amongst residents here.”
The Wamberal Protection Association (WPA) says the urgency for temporary protection measures has never been more critical and without timely intervention the erosion will worsen, leading to significant damage and loss.
“Government needs to give landowners the right to protect their land under the Reconstruction Act or Council needs to issue 124 orders as voted for over a week ago,” WPA President Chris Rogers said.
A Council spokesperson said while contractors were asked to stop work at North Entrance on Monday, no ‘stop work’ orders have been issued by Council.
“Council has not rejected the engineers report,” the spokesperson said.
“The LEOCON has requested further information which has not yet been provided to Council or to the LEOCON to satisfy the issuing of s61 SE&RM Act orders.”
The spokesperson said no orders have been made in respect of works for enabling temporary coastal protection works at The Entrance North or the use of the Crown Land at The Entrance North Surf Club for stockpiling.
“In relation to any update on talks with State Government, they are progressing,” the spokesperson said.
“We are hopeful of having a clearer pathway for owners to protect their properties, and will continue to work with all agencies for solutions.
“Council undertook some minimal works at Wamberal on Saturday, following the Local Emergency Operations Controller issuing orders for the protection works at the high risk area, during a short window of time linked to low tide.”
Skaie Hull and Terry Collins
council should never haved approved homes to be built so close to the ocean.
it’s true but how many years ago were these approved. Everyone is blaming home owners some houses have been in families for generations.
Houses shouldn’t be built on flood prone land. But look how the pollies are falling over themselves to throw money at them.
build at your own risk
You can’t build on Sand Dunes
“Build on the rock & not upon the sand” One doesn’t have to be religious to have heard or understand this. Yet people choose to put it to the test & expect a different outcome
Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV):
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
The wise earn, the fools squander, and the political sinners spend the taxpayer’s money-earned by the wise-to cover the consequences of the fools.
somebody wake up and help these people if their houses are gone so are the rates they pay and if those houses go the rest of north entrance will probably go.
what did they think was going to happen building on a sand dune
oh the enlightened are commenting .. experts of the arm chair…
coastal dunes replenish beach sand after storms and support stabilising vegetation. Avalon Beach changed its policy decades ago.
Council was taken to the land and environment court by landowners because they refused to allow homes to be built on the dunes at Wamberal, 40 years ago.Council lost and homes continued to be built.
why. it has been known for millennium that Sand is not a good base to build upon even preschoolers know .
of course it is upsetting to see homes that never should have been built there being damaged. as it is with the wide spread flooding due to rivers and creeks breaking their banks and flooding and damaging property and taking lives. we live in a country that is vulnerable to these weather events.we choose to live where we do .
Make them pay out of their own deep pockets, leave the ray payers money out of this.
Once again a fine example of council inaction and bureaucracy exacerbating a problem that the residents were prepared to fix and fund themselves in the limited time frame they had. This is how they make out rates and taxes disappear. They probably couldn’t do it this month because they had accumulated to many flexi days
They were told not to build there after the 78 floods when huge erosion washed the Caravan Pary out of the Skillion area.
Seems very few of you have some heart. Council collect exorbitant amount of rates from water fronts properties they should be entitled to more than what their getting. Council and the local MPs should be ashamed of themselves. They have know about this for years and still manage to FAIL These people will be left homeless as no insurance will cover this type of disaster.
These people were all advised not to build or renovate but they insisted. Demolish them all and return the dune to nature.
so when there is a bush fire do ya say they shouldn’t build in the bush. These are homes with real people living in them.
This is what insurance is for. Do you expect taxpayers to rebuild and compensate?
It’s been known for eons.
The wise man builds his house on rock, while the foolish man builds his on sand.
Sad but its a fact that this not the finish of it up and down the coast it’s only going to get worse here and overseas
why build on sand dunes ?