As Central Coast Council and emergency services worked on short-term erosion mitigation amid high seas and heavy storms this week, residents were also focused on a longer-term solution at Wamberal and North Entrance beaches.
The NSW Government committed $21.5M in the recently released 2025–26 State Budget to fund the next stage of sand nourishment works at Stockton Beach, which is seen as a key phase in a long-awaited “blueprint” to address erosion along the entire eastern coast.
Premier Chris Minns said Stockton will act as a statewide trial site for similar soft management approaches at other erosion-impacted beaches.
The Wamberal Save Pour Sand (SOS) group welcomed an announcement from Minns on April 1 that sand nourishment would be favoured as a long-term solution to the decades long problem, pretty much ruling out seawall options which had previously been favoured by both the NSW Government and Central Coast Council.
SOS volunteer Mark Lamont said seawall DAs lodged by Wamberal Protection Association (WPA) had attracted more than 3,200 community and expert objections – the highest in Central Coast history.
He said at the Central Coast Council meeting on June 23, CEO David Farmer signalled a potential shift away from a seawall solution, suggesting Council was now looking at “a hybrid” alternative, noting potential sand nourishment.
“The significant shift away from a Wamberal Beach vertical seawall over the past five years is a result of community action, the community’s voice,” he said.
“The community appreciates the beachfront legacy issues; however, it is clear the community does not support beachfront works that will harm the public beach or neighbours who are not needing or affording those works.
“The community heard from several top independent experts who warned that the proposed vertical seawall would destroy the beach.
“In the background, the community saw the severe impact of the vertical hard seawall at Collaroy Beach.”
With the Coastal Management Program (CMP) community consultation due mid-month, Lamont said SOS will be running CMP drop-in sessions at Wamberal Beach Surf Club over coming weekends, with more information to be provided on its Facebook page.
“Like Council, SOS encourages locals to review and make submissions about the CMP to better manage our coastlands, including Wamberal Beach,” he said.
Wamberal beach erosion is from sea-rise of about .3 metre. Wamberal slope is about 1:8 so the point of equilibrium is at 2.4metres inland. The dune vegetation at the base endured the water flows at the historic balance-point. Then such vegetation should hold the dune at 2.4 m back and .3m. higher at the base. Instead of sterile sand nourishment, the dune slope could be laid with fertile sand at the new balance-point. This sand needs to carry the local dune-grasses. Beach stairways and rubble are removed to give a smooth dune-face along the new frontage. Most houses there had about 10m to the original boundary (less 2.4m.) with say 4cm loss/year which gives a century remaining, with repeats of dune re-planting.
I agree. remove the unsightly stairs that I am sure do not have approval.
It’s a free choice. Lose the stairs or lose the house.