Sydney storm: Beachfront homes at Collaroy may have to be partly demolished says engineer

RESIDENTS whose beachfront houses are on the brink of collapse may not have homes to return after engineers assessed the extent of structural damage today.

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A CONSULTANT engineer acting for the Northern Beaches Council has indicated that up to seven houses on the Collaroy beachfront could need to be partially demolished.

Angus Gordon a consultant coastal engineer employed by the council said they were still in a “wait and see” phase, with another king tide expected tonight.

But attention has turned to reinforcing a seawall outside a block of apartments at 1150 Pittwater Rd with SES crews sandbagging the exposed wall to prevent further erosion underneath the building when the seas return to high tide tonight.

The 15-unit block sits on strip footings which Mr Gordon described as “more vulnerable”.

So far the wall of rocks, now exposed, has protected the property.

Consultant coastal engineer specialist Angus Gordon inspects damaged beachfront homes along Pittwater Road at Collaroy today. Picture: AAP

A before and after shot shows the extent of damage to the strip of homes along Pittwater Rd. A sea wall of rocks in front of the apartment block is clearly visible in the after shot.

Mr Gordons said some houses had been built with file foundations and would likely survive but others had already lost parts of their structure.

“Others are certainly ones that we are having to look at very carefully a number of them are undermined and some of them have started to lose parts of the houses.”

No houses have been completely lost but Mr Gordon said it was possible.

“There have been none lost at this stage but there are a number that we are watching and monitoring very carefully,” he said.

“At this point in time I would say there would be a need to at least dismantle parts of some of those properties.”

SES crews sand bagging the affected properties along Collaroy Beach after storm hit.

RFS sandbag out front of 1150 Pittwater Rd in Collaroy. Picture: John Grainger

He estimated it could be as many as seven homes but added that likely three or four would definitely be affected.

Mr Gordon said houses to the south of 1150 Pittwater Rd were among the worst affected and it was too early to say when residents could return home to the southern end, if at all.

SES Pittwatwer commander Wayne Lyne indicated those houses were “structurally not good” and that they would be fencing them off to deny access the near future.

Warringah Council group manager a natural environments Todd Dickinson (left) and consultant coastal engineer specialist Angus Gordon with speak to police during an inspection of damaged beachfront homes. Picture: AAP

Mr Gordon said the pain was still not over for homeowners with another high tide on the way at 10pm tonight.

“Although the waves have gone down a lot, they will be back up under the houses with another high tide late tonight,” he said.

And the houses worst affected are in mother nature’s hands for the time being.

“With those houses it is virtually impossible at this time to get in there and carry out any meaningful work,” Mr Gordon said.

A mother navigates her way through debris at Collaroy. Picture: AAP

Yesterday, one homeowner along that strip Zaza Silk criticised the council for not having a sea wall in place.

Mr Gordon said there was “no two ways about it” that a sea wall should be a priority, particularly with its proximity to Pittwater Rd.

Debris at Collaroy Beach. Huge seas continue to pound the coastline. Picture: AAP

He suggested the houses should be compulsorily acquired if they remain.

“You cant afford to lose that (Pittwater Rd).

“There is a rationale of retaining buildings along the front here because you would have to build a wall somewhere to protect the other infrastructure.”

The council has attempted to put sea walls in place previously, but has been met with community opposition.

“There have been several proposals to build walls but the difficulty is while they obviously protect private property they can adversely affect the beach so, a lot of people in the community are against them,” Mr Gordon said.

“In the past about 3000 people turned out in what was known as the ‘line in the sand’ to protest against a sea wall.”

Several beachfront homes may have to be partly demolished after already losing their back yards and sustaining structural damage. Picture: AAP

Northern Beaches Council has recently completed a coastal zone management plan which has been certified by the government.

It would see the council build walls but also nourish the beach to make up for any damage it might cause to the public beach.

But it would likely come at a cost in the tens of millions and there is confusion around who would fund it.

“The wall needs to be built, and the residents would obviously need to put some funds towards that, but the question is how that is best achieved,” Mr Gordon said.

The king tide this morning saw waves hitting the same beachfront houses again but the sea wall of rocks in front of the apartment block to the right has prevented serious erosion.

The king tide continued to batter homes along the beachfront this morning.