Crane to remove North Cronulla lifeguard tower on brink of falling over due to beach erosion

A crane is being rushed in to remove the North Cronulla lifeguard tower, which is at risk of toppling into the sea after wild weather washed away the beach. See the startling photos and video here.

Sutherland Shire Council will use a crane to remove the North Cronulla lifeguard tower which is on the brink of falling over after the beach was washed away in big swell and tides over the weekend.

There is a significant drop below where the tower stands, with residents on Monday morning concerned it could topple over.

The wooden planks that provide a safe access to the beach are lying limp down the drop of the cliff.

The tower is secured to a large slab but the council is not taking any chances and have called in a crane to move the structure before the coastline is again lashed by big surf expected for 6pm Monday night.

The crane will be on site later this afternoon to remove the tower.

Cronulla resident Nicola Barrett said she had never seen the beach in such a state.

“It is pretty shocking and scary,” she said. “I have lived near Cronulla almost my whole life and I have never seen it so bad.

“There is almost a sheer drop from the esplanade down onto the beach.”

The area around near the tower has been fenced off to prevent public access to the dangerous drop.

A Sutherland Shire Council spokesman said officers were conducting “extensive works” to address the impact of significant sand erosion across Bate Bay beaches due to recent storms and continued heavy swells.

“Work is currently underway to remove the North Cronulla Lifeguard tower after the council determined any further erosion of the North Cronulla beachfront would pose an unacceptable risk to the structural integrity of this tower,” he said.

“This work was commissioned after monitoring progressive erosion over a period of weeks and risk assessment conducted on the tower.

“Utilities are currently being disconnected from the tower with a crane due to arrive on site to remove the structure later this afternoon.”

The spokesman said the removal of this tower would not undermine beach safety.

“Council lifeguards will maintain the same level of visual surveillance as would ordinarily be provided during winter months from the Coastalwatch surf cameras installed along the council patrolled beaches,” he said.

“Council continues to assess the damage caused to the North Cronulla sea wall, and a plan of works is being developed to undertake urgent reinforcement of the sea wall which are expected to commence within days.”

Access to the adjacent section of The Esplanade will be restricted while works are being undertaken.

Ms Barrett said she and her partner sat in their car on Friday night while it was pouring with rain.

“We were looking down at the beach and it was amazing to watch the active force of the environment,” she said. “It was scary to see.

“When we got there on Friday most of the beach had eroded away but there is even less sand on Monday.”

A hazardous surf warning remains in place for the Sydney coastline with tides of nearly two metres expected this evening.

Cronulla beach in 2021. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Adam Yip

Sealevel restaurant owner Blake Allouche said he had seen the sand wash away for months.

“It was pretty bad two or three months ago when there were high swells, then the council did sand dredging and dropped off sand,” he said. “The beach started to look better.

“I go for a swim about once a week and the beach was coming back slowly.

“Now this is the worst I have seen it by far.”

Mr Allouche had noticed people had been congregating at the beach and commenting on how sad it was to see little sand.

“I wonder how far it can keep eroding or if there is a plan to fix it?” he said.

“The erosion doesn’t affect my business but if the sea levels rise over the years then I am worried about what damage it can cause to the building.”

Rocks have been left behind in the coastal erosion. Picture: Supplied

Mr Allouche said the restaurant was not usually too affected by large swells and tides because the waves broke at the wall but water did wash onto the windows and sometimes seeped through, which was why sandbags were placed out the front on wet weather days.

“When there are high seas the restaurant is quite a good place to watch the show,” he said.

Beachgoers should take caution and follow directions provided by the council’s ocean safety and lifeguard team and via safety signage displayed on site.

A number of beach access tracks remain closed in the interests of public safety, with beachgoers urged to use an alternate route should their usual point of entry to the beach be fenced off.

Council continues to monitor weather and surf conditions to assess when works to replenish sand along the most frequented Bate Bay beaches can be conducted without further threat of erosion.