Wamberal Beach: Two homes partially collapse from high tides

Images of the Wamberal erosion site reveal tiled flooring, destroyed balconies and brick walls ripped from homes, as council warn stickybeaks to stay away.

Two homes have partially collapsed during high tides and rough seas at Wamberal Beach.

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Bathroom tiling, collapsed staircases and partial pieces of balconies can be seen among the carnage at the southern end of Wamberal Beach.

At least two Ocean View Drive homes have partially collapsed in the high tides, with irreparable damage to others, with many residents evacuated on Friday night in preparation for the disaster.

Damaged staircases leading directly into the water have been propped up with wooden beams, while metal pipes are dangerously protruding from the sand.

Power and water has also been cut to the area with more residents leaving their homes this afternoon.

Two homes have partially collapsed during high tides and rough seas at Wamberal Beach.

Walls and balconies have crumbled.

Many locals have been walking to the site of the erosion for a stickybeak.

“There goes our dream of building a home on Wamberal Beach”, one man, who did not wish to be named, said. “What an absolute disaster.”

Central Coast Council officers were forced to fence off both access points to the erosion site on the beach and issued a public warning via social media.

“Please do not try to breach any beach access barriers, especially those to the impacted beach area below the buildings at Wamberal. You will endanger not only yourself, but may create further damage to the weakened dune system,” the post read.

Council blocks off access to the erosion site.

Late Friday police went door-to-door evacuating residents, however, many had made the decision to self-evacuate well before the high tide.

On Saturday morning, SES and State Government Engineers were assessing a number of homes, indicating more structural damage could occur.

They were out talking to residents, many of whom have expressed frustration toward council and its inaction over ongoing demands for a revetment wall at the popular beach.

The disaster has prompted Mayor Lisa Matthews, and other councillors, to call an extraordinary council meeting on Monday night at 6.30pm.

An aerial view of the coastal erosion. Picture: James D. Morgan/Getty Images

Gordon Cahill, 55 and his daughter Matilda, 18, whose house has been in the family for 35 years. Picture: David Swift

The aim is for the public to be given an update around the unfolding coastal crisis at both Wamberal and North Entrance.

“The impact this storm has had on Wamberal and North Entrance residents is devastating, some are at risk of losing their homes as a result of severe erosion due to damaging surf,” Cr Matthews said.

“It is imperative that members of the community are well informed of the co-ordinated response efforts underway from all levels of government.”

A staircase has been reinforced for safety.

Confronting images show partially collapsed homes teetering on the edge of Wamberal’s cliffs.

At least one home is missing walls, which have been swallowed by the sea.

A large number of properties have been directly impacted with backyards, shade sails and private steps washed away exposing bare rock at the foot of homes.

Some homes are missing walls, which have fallen into the sea, and others standing on only concrete blocks, the land around them swept away as waves lap at what’s left.

On Friday Resident Margaret Brice said a proposed revetment wall for the beach had been part of local council and State Government coastal management plans for years but authorities “just have not got off their hands” to do anything about it.

This is despite the state government committing $207,500 for council to design the wall at a total project cost of $415,00 in 2018.

Margaret Brice said council has known about the issues at Wamberal. Picture: David Swift

Ms Brice told the Express Advocate four people evacuated as the high tide threatened to undercut homes last night with another high tide to hit later this evening.

“They knew this was happening,” she said of Wamberal’s long-running erosion issues which date back to the 1970s.

“It’s not just about the beachfront houses, it’s about the infrastructure along Ocean View Drive.

“We’re at the top of the dam wall, we’re 9m above sea level and the road is 3m above sea level, if we go hundreds of homes will be inundated. It’s an absolute disaster.”

Monday’s council meeting will be online, due to COVID-19 restrictions, with residents able to watch it on council’s website.