Collaroy-Narrabeen: More erosion fears for beachfront homes as high tide hits

As a deep east coast low loiters off the NSW coast, beachfront residents at Collaroy and Narrabeen are anxiously awaiting the next high tide, after swells washed away up to a metre of land in one spot overnight.

Beach erosion at the rear of a property in Goodwin St, Narrabeen caused by overnight waves reaching as high as 2.4m battered the coastline. Picture: Julie Cross

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Owners of beachfront homes at Collaroy and Narrabeen are anxiously waiting the next high tide this afternoon as large seas continue to batter the northern beaches coastline.

A hazardous surf warning is still in place and the next high tide is due at 2.50pm.

Residents fear more beach erosion damage as the next high tide looms and strong winds continue to lash the northern beaches. Picture: Julie Cross

With the deep east coast low still loitering off the NSW coast, a strong wind warning has also been issued.

Beach erosion at the rear of properties on Narrabeen Beach, looking north towards Goodwin St. Residents used to walk in front of the brick wall where the man is standing two weeks ago. Picture: Julie Cross

Even though conditions are expected to ease this afternoon, there was overnight beach erosion along sections of Narrabeen and Collaroy beaches as swells up to 4.3m were recorded. One property, in Goodwin St, lost a metre from its backyard early this morning, with residents saying they’ve taken a pounding from the surf in the last two weeks.

Large seas threaten homes along Narrabeen Beach on Tuesday morning. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Some fencing has been damaged while garden furniture and ornaments have fallen onto the beach near Goodwin St, Narrabeen.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the low is still producing high winds. A gust hitting 63 km/h was recorded at North Head early this morning.

The Manly ferry and the Many Fast Ferry battle the swell across Sydney Heads this morning. Picture: John Grainger

Swell heights on Tuesday are as high as 4.3m with waves hitting the beaches between 1.8 to 2.4m.

Residents backing onto Narrabeen Beach, who have lost some of their backyards and fences to the ocean in the two weeks, said they were able to step straight out onto the sand from the end of their gardens a few months ago.

But after storms in May and the two east coast lows in the past fortnight, there was now a five metre drop to the beach.

Hannah Jeeves, 30, who has two young boys, said they had to quickly put up a fence because the drop appeared and it was dangerous for the children.

The Reeves' family, whose home backs on to Narrabeen Beach, had to install a fence to stop their small children from falling after beach erosion took away about three to five metres of their garden in three years. Picture: Julie Cross

“We put up the fence after the last big storm in May,” Ms Jeeves said.

“Before we could just walk out onto the sand.”

Ms Jeeves’s property, which is a few homes south of Goodwin St, has lost land since she and her husband bought it three years ago.

The couple are planning a knockdown and rebuild that will extend their house footprint even closer to the ocean. Currently it is set at least 20m further back from the two houses either side.

But they will need to build a seawall to protect their property.

Waves crashing on exposed rocks on Narrabeen Beach, just south of Wetherill St. Picture: Julie Cross

Ms Jeeves said they are having a pre-DA meeting with Northern Beaches Council next week about their house plans, on the basis they will build a vertical seawall with stairs down to the ocean. The wall alone is estimated to cost up to $400,000.

Ideally, the Jeeves’s would like neighbours to the north to contribute and continue the wall to Goodwin St, but they’ve failed to get support so far.

“We knew we would have to build a seawall when we bought,” Ms Jeeves said.

She said she understood the council may contribute up to 20 per cent if it was built next year and if it was for more than one individual property.

Waves surging towards Narrabeen Beach, just north of Wetherill St. Picture: Julie Cross

“Since we moved in it’s got a lot worse,” Ms Jeeves said.

“The garden has been eaten. We’ve lost three to five metres.”

Her neighbour Maria Anstice, who has lived in hat was her grandfather’s beachfront property for 50 years, said she built a rock seawall in 1974 which has protected her property.

She said properties to the north which are not protected by a seawall have lost land in the last two storms.

“It’s been constant these past couple of weeks,” Ms Anstice said.

“The surf is breaking so close. It usually breaks out to sea and rolls in.”

She said her property was fine because of the wall.

“Our wall has really protected us numerous times,” she said.

“Those further up have lost a fair bit in the last two weeks.

“You could walk in front of the brick wall a bit further along, but not anymore.”

She said the council ought to do more to support her neighbours as their houses are protecting Pittwater Rd.

“They need to pull their finger out,” she said.

Meanwhile, flooding has forced the closure of Wakehurst Parkway in both directions between Oxford Falls and North Narrabeen. Oxford Falls Rd is also closed at the causeway at Middle Creek.

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