Wamberal erosion: Many residents allowed home as emergency works continue
It’s been three weeks since high tides saw Wamberal homes partially crumble into the ocean, resulting in the evacuation of 18 properties. Now some residents are getting the go ahead to return home.
Central Coast
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Many Wamberal residents can start making their way home, with some properties removed from the red zone at the Ocean View Dr erosion site.
Public Works has reassessed affected properties and deemed some safe to re-enter, paving the way for many residents to return home to start their own repair works.
At the time of the disaster, 18 properties were evacuated – now only six and a half remain in the red zone including a block of units.
Central Coast Council’s chief executive officer Gary Murphy said residents, in consultation with a specialist team from council, could look at repair work to their individual properties.
“What they need to be looking at now is works on their own property,” Mr Murphy said.
“If they want to restore some of their backyard … that’s what we are talking about. It’s up to landowners now as to what works they decide to do. We are encouraging property owners to get sound engineering advice.”
Mr Murphy said he hoped to see the number of houses in the red zone further reduced.
“Hopefully within the next few days, six and a half will go back to three properties,” he said.
Emergency works are set to continue for the next two weeks, with more than 5000 tonnes of rock now placed at Wamberal and North Entrance.
Emergency works have seen 1800 tonnes of large basalt rocks placed directly on Wamberal Beach with 1720 tonnes of rock filled bags craned in from Ocean View Drive.
More four tonne bags will arrive today and Ocean View Drive will remain closed until at least Saturday while these works continue.
At North Entrance, more than 2060 tonnes of rock has been placed on the beach between the Karagi Reserve beach access and Hargraves Street beach access.
Mr Murphy said the huge response by council had been successful in temporarily mitigating further erosion.
“The results speak for themselves and show what is possible when you have the best coastal engineers in Australia working with committed crews, the best material available and the emergency orders needed to get the job done,” he said.
“The success of this response will hold us in good stead as we plan further recovery works and a longer-term solution at both locations.”
He said remaining work will focus on priority sites affected by the erosion, while council is closely watching the wet weather predictions for this weekend.
Both North Entrance and Wamberal beaches remain closed in front of affected properties.