Funding secured for Umina and Ocean beaches erosion
A CALL for a long-term solution for the dangerous erosion at Umina and Ocean beaches has been answered.
Central Coast
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A CALL for a long-term solution for the dangerous erosion at Umina and Ocean beaches has been answered.
Central Coast Council has secured NSW Government funding to help tackle the issue of public safety and beach erosion.
The funding, which is part of the Gosford Beaches Coastal Zone Management Plan, will be matched by the council to ensure nearly $500,000 is put towards addressing the risks.
The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has been calling for a long-term strategy to renourish and restore the beachfront at Ocean Beach south of Ettalong Point, including rock packing and promenades.
Peninsula Chamber President Matthew Wales said the dune protection funding was welcome, although long overdue.
He described the foreshore as a “major safety hazard” and “an embarrassment at a time when we are trying to attract visitors and tourists to the area”.
“Even though this is only a short-term solution, we strongly encourage the council to move quickly with the required studies and repair works before the erosion and vertical scarps become worse,” he said.
“There is a lot of concern in the community over the safety risk the erosion is causing along the beach escarpment and the lack of beach access, particularly for people with disabilities.
“We have one of the best coastal views and safest beaches, yet the foreshore looks like a war zone.”
Mr Wales said the community was keen to see “action on the ground” before an accident happened.
The funding will allow the first two phases of a larger project to go ahead, including analysis of the coastal processes and sediment dynamics for Broken Bay, as well as options to improve beach access and amenities.
Council’s director of assets, infrastructure and business Mike Dowling said the funding would enable the council to identify a long-term protective option for The Esplanade, and vital infrastructure including water and drainage systems, and electricity and telecommunications services.
He said the rate of erosion was exacerbated in April 2015 during damaging coastal storms.
“Council has a short-term strategy in place to protect The Esplanade,” he said.
“This includes the ongoing beach monitoring program, a temporary wall covering over 100m of beach and an ongoing beach scraping program that brings available sand further up the beach.”
Central Coast Mayor Jane Smith said the funding would allow for the development of concept designs to address public safety due to steep erosion escarpments, beach and windblown dune erosion, dune ecology and general amenity at Ocean and Umina beaches.
“The design will consider improved pedestrian access to the beach and The Esplanade, helping ensure our community can stay safely connected to their local environment,” she said.
Mr Wales said the restoration of Ocean and Umina beaches should be tied in with dredging of the Ettalong Beach Channel through a sand renourishment process.
“Now, more than ever before, it is essential that the NSW Government approves the recent council funding application for the dredging and let council get on with the job,” he said.