Residents in two of the Central Coast’s most erosion-prone communities — The Entrance North and Wamberal — continue to wait anxiously for progress on emergency coastal protection works.
While one has taken small steps forward, the other remains in an increasingly dire situation, with fresh damage highlighting the urgency.
At The Entrance North, the proposed emergency works are currently under review by the NSW Reconstruction Authority after a revised scope of works was submitted by Central Coast Council.
However, confusion remains among residents, who say they haven’t been shown the updated plans, even as they are being asked to sign non-binding agreements.
“We haven’t seen the latest plans, any conditions of approval, costings, or even where the sand is supposed to come from — and there’s no start date,” said one concerned Entrance North local.
Member for The Entrance David Mehan confirmed the submission of the revised design on Friday, June 13, following a Ministerial Order on May 21, which declared a Reconstruction Area due to significant erosion damage from storms in early April.
“The Council coordinated the preparation of an initial design for protection works on 30 May but failed to obtain consent from all owners, resulting in a revised design,” Mehan said.
“I support Council’s request and encourage the Minister to consider the matter and respond as a matter of urgency.”
A government source confirmed that the Reconstruction Authority has received the scope of works for The Entrance North and is currently reviewing the proposal.
However, Wamberal’s scope has not yet been submitted, further frustrating residents who are already grappling with escalating damage.
Residents have received no formal communication and remain reliant on media reports for updates.
Council said engineers have completed risk assessments and that initial design concepts were expected earlier this week — but no scope of works or any communication has been received.
The urgent need for intervention was made dramatically clear last week when a sandstone wall and glass balustrade collapsed onto the beach, forcing Wamberal Beach to be closed to the public.
The debris now litters the shoreline, with the affected homeowner unable to bring machinery onto the sand to clean up the mess due to regulatory barriers.
“The balustrade sits about 10 metres inside his property boundary, which only adds to the mess now spilling onto the beach,” said a neighbouring resident.
Local homeowners say they’ve been pleading for approval to carry out temporary emergency works at their own expense to protect their properties and clean up dangerous debris.
“Permanent protection would solve this problem for good and address the worsening geotechnical issues that threaten dozens of homes and community assets along this stretch of coastline,” another resident said.
Council, in its latest statement, said: “Once these [Wamberal] design concepts are received, we will engage with property owners as we have with owners at The Entrance North.
“All stakeholders — including the NSW Government, property owners, and Council — are fully aware of and appreciate the urgency to finalise plans so that a request for Ministerial Authorisation for works in both locations can be made.”
As pressure mounts, Council reiterated its ongoing consultation process.
Regarding The Entrance North, it said: “After issuing initial draft plans for emergency protection works, Council is working with our consultant to revise draft plans in accordance with owner feedback.
“We are working to have revised draft plans finalised and a formal request for Ministerial Authorisation submitted in the coming days.”
With winter swells rolling in and public safety now compromised, both communities are demanding immediate action, greater transparency, and a clear pathway forward.
Central Coast Council was contacted for an updated statement but this was not received by the time Coast Community News went to print.
Skaie Hull
If the glass balustrade is inside the owners’ property by 10 metres , then why can’t the property owner remove it through his own property? It’s not appropriate to just leave it where it is at risk of making more mess on the beach.
Permanent property protection by the proposed vertical concrete sea wall will destroy the beach & flood the lagoons. Also access to the beach will be greatly limited.
Look to Collaroy Beach , which has only has a 240m vertical sea wall. The beach is destroyed.
The current damage at the southern end of Wamberal beach shows exactly what is going to happen if the proposed 1.3klm long Vertical Seawall, Private Property Protection goes ahead. The seawall is touted as being out of the of the “Active Beach Zone” – all locals know that this is untrue – it’s right in it. The power of nature will push its way along that seawall and totally change the Terrigal lagoon opening and closing processes and possibly affect Terrigal beach as well. No study has been done into these factors! It’s almost like the landowners and Central Coast Council don’t want to know the reality of the consequences of Seawall proposal!
Council approved these houses when building applications were applied for including taking all fees. Council have taken years of very high rates year and year on. Council has a duty of care to make sure these homes and individual are safe.
Council takes and takes.
I am not a beach front owner.
Council has not been approving building or renovations of Wamberal beach front homes for a long time.
The owners seek authority from the Land and Environment Court, as I understand, that overrules the Council.
The land owners know the risk and should not expect a beach destroying wall or rate payers to pay for their decision to build in an erosion hot spot.