Wamberal erosion: Situation for homes ‘critical’ during wild weather
Wamberal’s erosion situation is ‘critical’ as the Central Coast is again pounded with damaging winds and surf, with residents fearful houses will go if there’s another big swell in the next few weeks.
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High tide has brought large swells and dangerous surf with waves battering erosion-affected properties in Wamberal Beach.
The tide reached its peak just before 1pm today at 1.33m with the next high tide expected at 12.38am.
Central Coast Council has advised the emergency works at the site, including rock bags and rock formations, “have held up well” following yesterday and today’s large swell.
Beachfront property owner Chris Rogers told the Express Advocate his backyard had sunk more overnight and, while his property had been deemed safe to re-enter, he was holding off until after the current weather event.
“We’ve got young daughters so we are looking at how we can best return making sure it is as safe as possible,” he said.
“We all want to go home and will hopefully do so later this week. The coastal engineers are going to review everything after the swell today and give us another update.”
Mr Rogers said another huge swell in the next few weeks would result in homes going into the ocean.
“They’re still teetering and the situation is critical,” he said.
“Emergency works are going to finish in the couple of weeks and we need to keep on the council. We are a highly motivated bunch of people and are keen to take on the council.
“A permanent revetment wall needs to come quickly and flow on so we are never here again.”
Damaging winds and surf conditions remain the primary concern across the coast today. The State Emergency Services (SES) has issued weather warnings across the region with predictions of 60-70km/h winds with gusts in excess of 90km/h.
It has been more than three weeks since homes along Ocean View Dr partly crumbled into the ocean following high tides and dangerous surf conditions.
There has been no significant further damage at the site however concerns remain for landslipping as well as further erosion to properties.
Around 11 properties were removed from the red zone last week, with residents allowed to re-enter homes, however emergency crews remain on standby.
Council continued emergency rock placement works over the weekend in preparation for the weather with more than 5000 tonnes of rocks now laid at both Wamberal and North Entrance erosion sites.
Gosford State Emergency Service (SES) controller Rolf Garda said there had been about a dozen calls for assistance overnight from the wild weather, mostly for leaking roofs.
He said there was one crew out this morning attending three or four jobs including a tree branch down on a house at Wyoming.
Mr Garda said the rain has eased for the moment but high winds could still pose problems.
“The winds have been gusting so we’ll probably get a few more,” he said.
A crew was also sent to Terrigal after a tree narrowly missed falling on a house on the corner of Painters Lane and Campbell Crescent.
At Mangrove Mountain 50.2mm of rain has fallen since 5pm yesterday to 9am this morning with Gosford recording 33.4mm and Norah Head 32.4mm in the same period.
Norah Head has recorded the wildest winds with gusts of 96km/h recorded between 7.03am and 7.10am.