Waterfront houses in Wamberal collapse as swells batter shoreline

One of the owners of 64 properties hit by huge swells on the Central Coast has revealed how he watched in horror as part of his waterfront Wamberal home collapsed. SEE THE PICTURES

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A man who watched part of his waterfront home collapse says local council bureaucrats are to blame for the disaster, calling them “an abysmal bunch of people”.

Gordon Cahill is one of the worst affected homeowners in Wamberal on the Central Coast, where huge swells have eroded the backyards of many of the 64 properties along the coast.

The State Emergency Service has gone door to door along Ocean View Dr at Wamberal Beach asking residents to evacuate as the swell continues to batter the shoreline.

Huge swells have caused erosion and land to slip into the ocean along a row of prestige homes at Wamberal. Picture: David Swift

From of the damage caused by the erosion. Picture: David Swift

While other Ocean View Drive residents have seen part of their kitchen disappear into the ocean, Mr Cahill has lost his large deck which is “the size of a two-bedroom home”.

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He and many other owners claim red tape and bureaucratic stubbornness from the local council has prevented them from protecting their properties with sea walls.

“We have been fighting for 30 years and they have been deliberately obstructive towards people fighting to protect their properties,” Mr Cahill said.

“My neighbours have lost all of their dunes and my sand is collapsing sideways into their properties.

One of the houses damaged by the massive waves from the shoreline. Picture: David Swift

The huge swells ripped open the wall to the kitchen of this house. Picture: David Swift

“My balcony has gone flop and it is a beast of a balcony. It is 4m by 15m — it’s the size of a two-bedroom house.

“I would say the cost is at least $50,000. The board is bent. I don’t how much is it going to cost to make that sand dune safe.”

Gordon Cahill, 55 and his daughter Matilda, 18, at their Wamberal house. Picture: David Swift

Residents are being asked to leave and the power will be turned off. Picture: David Swift

People running away from the huge swells on the shore. Picture: David Swift

A number of properties along the strip have been using a crane to drop in large boulders.

It is hoped these rocks will prevent further erosion when the sea swell increases later this afternoon and this evening.

One man, who did not want to be named, said he sold his waterfront property around 2010 partly because of concerns about coastal erosion.

“I don’t want to say that I saw this coming, but I saw this coming,” he said.

“I remember around 2002 the beach was about 40m away, now it’s right at everyone’s doorstep.”

Originally published as Waterfront houses in Wamberal collapse as swells batter shoreline