(AU) Wild Weather Leaves NSW Homes At Risk Of 'Structural Collapse Due To Beach Erosion'

Sydney Morning Herald - Sally Rawsthorne | Matt Bungard

Beachfront homes on the state's Central Coast are at significant risk of structural collapse after large and powerful surf smashed the beaches on Thursday.

Police, the State Emergency Service and NSW Fire and Rescue were called to homes on Ocean View Drive in Wamberal on Thursday night following reports of serious beach erosion at the properties.

Erosion due to wild weather at Wamberal Beach on the Central Coast. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

The NSW coast was hit by a low pressure system, with large swells and a high tide damaging the region's beaches and leaving some homes perched dangerously close to collapsing into the ocean.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Bimal Kc said waves at the beach were up to 7.8 metres high.

"We have seen a large and powerful swell developing in NSW in the past three days, due to the deep low pressure system over the Tasman Sea," he said.

There is a hazardous surf warning in place for the entire coastline.


Residents living along the NSW coast are on edge after days of extreme surf have caused significant erosion leaving homes exposed to the elements.

A crane was seen on Thursday night putting large concrete blocks in to slow the damage to property along the stretch of coastline.

Four homes were evacuated overnight.

"It’s both terrifying and extremely frustrating as well," said Chris Rogers, who lives on Ocean View Drive with his wife and two young daughters.

"Realistically, this is a massive community problem and the council’s just completely ignored it. They’ve known for years and years that this is a problem."

Erosion at Wamerbal Beach on Friday morning. Credit: Nine News

In a Facebook post, Terrigal Fire and Rescue said the homes were at "significant risk of structural collapse due to beach erosion".

On Friday, council engineers were going door to door and assessing the damage to properties, after sandbags that were put in place to protect the homes were ripped away by the damaging weather.

Mr Rogers dismissed the actions of the Central Coast Council on Friday, saying it had dragged its heels in the past when it came to a solution.

"They were all over us today saying, 'We’re gonna do something' but we’ve heard that before. It makes you angry, it makes you frustrated. It scares your kids, scares you as a family," he said.

The waves continue to push further inland. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

"This is the third or fourth episode this year alone – the whole beach is destroyed, there’s massive amounts of asbestos going into the water."

Mr Rogers said he was frustrated that the council had not reached out to state Liberal MP Adam Crouch, the member for Terrigal, about a subsidy program to guard against erosion - as the Northern Beaches Council did for Collaroy last year.

"In 2018 the NSW government provided $207,500 for the council to develop plans for a long-term solution to the erosion issues at Wamberal, and we stand ready to assist council further," Mr Crouch said.

"This is not just about protecting homes on the coastline - the hundreds of millions of dollars of public infrastructure along Ocean View Drive also needs to be protected."

It was imperative that the council immediately placed temporary structures such as sandbags on Wamberal Beach and engaged personnel such as geotechnical and coastal engineering experts, who are needed to assist community members, he said.

"NSW government coastal engineers are currently working with council staff, and the Minister for Local Government has instructed that any funding application be rapidly assessed," he said.

Mr Rogers and his wife are at home for the time being, but have sent their daughters to their grandmother's house while they assess the situation.

"We’ll gladly put our hand in our pocket to secure our homes, but the council has to give us a guaranteed, sure solution," he said.

"It’s heartbreaking to think that you’ve got a council that really doesn’t give a shit."

Central Coast Council has been contacted for comment.

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