Lack of sand threatens VolleyFest event at Manly Beach

Beach volleyball organisers are battling to rebuild Manly Beach in time for an international meet after half the sand was washed away in the recent storm.

Trent Clarke, events manager for Volleyball Australia at Manly Beach. Contractors have been brought in to build up beach for volleyball tournament after half of it was washed away. Picture: Julie Cross

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Volleyball Australia is battling to save its event after the recent wild weather washed away half of Manly Beach leaving not enough sand to play on.

Stormy weather and high tides has seen massive beach erosion along the peninsula, including at Manly where the 10-day VolleyFest event attracting 120 teams is due to start at 7am on Saturday.

Contractors are brought in to build up beach for volleyball tournament after half of it was washed away. Picture: Julie Cross

Trent Clarke, events manager at Volleyball Australia, said he had never seen a beach in this state before an event in the 26 years he has been running competitions.

“Up until Monday we were looking at alternative sites at Freshwater or Shelly,” he said.

“I have never seen a beach this bad in 26 years.”

The Commonwealth team vs Europe play a 4 a side exhibition game on the 10th of March 2019. Last day of VolleyFest at Manly beach. Picture: Adam Yip

Mr Clarke said Volleyball Australia was spending between $5000 and $10,000 on contractors brought in to help shift and level enough sand so that they can set up 12 courts.

“They are expecting to put in a 12 to 14 hour day today and be back tomorrow,” Mr Clarke said on Wednesday.

“They have to shift a lot of sand.”

Mr Clarke said they were taking sand from wherever they could to create a base for the courts.

USA and China playing in the Gold medal qualifier game on the 10th of March 2019. Last day of VolleyFest at Manly beach. Picture: Adam Yip

Some sand had been pushed up against the seawall by the high tides and so was being levelled out, while other parts of the beach had completely disappeared or fallen away.

He said the eight permanent courts would have to be moved closer to the seawall to give the contestants enough sand on the oceanside to make it safe for them.

Mr Clarke said Northern Beaches Council had made every effort to support the organisation after seeing the state of the beach.

He said he was confident they would be able to set up the courts in time as long as the weather held.

Volleyball Australia’s Manly 2020 event has been blighted with problems.

Manly MP James Griffin at Manly for the launch of a previous VolleyFest volleyball contest. Picture: Adam Yip

In November last year it was saved at the 11th hour by Manly MP James Griffin, when it lost $450,000 funding from Destination NSW.

The state government and Northern Beaches Council found extra money to support the event in a downgraded capacity.

The competition which had been scheduled to include the FIVB World Tour event, billed as an important qualifier for Tokyo 2020, was culled as not enough funding was found.

Instead it will host the NSW Open, the U19s and U21 Australian Championships and the Australian Beach Volleyball tour as well as international camps.