Residents demand action as stormwater overflow from Bondi Golf Course sends torrents of water, sand, debris into homes

Poor drainage at an eastern suburbs golf course is sending torrents of water, foul sewage and tonnes of sand into surrounding homes, infuriating residents who have labelled the situation “an absolute nightmare”.

Poor drainage at an eastern suburbs golf course is sending torrents of water, foul sewage and tonnes of sand into surrounding homes during heavy rain events, infuriating residents who have likened the situation to “living in the third world”.

Fed-up homeowners are demanding the local council take immediate action, claiming inadequate flood mitigation at Bondi Golf Course is leaving stormwater with nowhere to go but into their homes, resulting in thousands of dollars in damage and sharp spikes in their insurance premiums.

Impacted homeowner Jeanette, who asked for her surname not to be published and has lived next to the golf club for 30 years, said the situation was “an absolute nightmare”.

“It’s an absolute nightmare,” she said.

“Every time it rains, we’ve got debris, mud and stinking rotten dirt and sand from the golf club that gushes into our yard.

Photos captured by residents showing damage caused by flooding.

Sand blankets yards due to overflow from the golf course.

“In the most recent rain, the water flooded our laundry and destroyed our washing machines in the house.

“It’s gotten to the point where every time we get a drop of rain, we don't know what’s going to happen.

“I have to wear shoes whenever I walk in the yard to avoid bringing all the mud back into the house. It’s like living in a campaign ground.”

Ms Lehmann also likened the situation to “living in the third world”.

Other residents say the lack of action taken to address the problem has left them with “no choice” but to install their own infrastructure.

One has forked out thousands on a stormwater channel that diverts the flow of water underneath his property to a street drain.

Photos captured by Bondi residents showing damage caused during rain events.

Water and sand flowing from the Bondi Golf Course.

Calls for action have been spurred on by this month’s heavy rain, which sent water gushing through other parts of Sydney’s east, including Double Bay.

Jeff Singer, whose Bondi home backs on to the golf course, said the flood issue had impacted insurance premiums, with his bill recently soaring from $4800 to $10,600.

He said the flooding had been a perennial problem for more than three years.

Overflow from the golf course sends mud and sand into the path of homes.

“When it rains, the water and debris flows like a river into our yard and we’ve had up to 700mL of sand high in our backyard,” he said.

“If Bondi Beach ever needed more sand we could supply it.

“The ground of the golf course is so saturated it can’t absorb even a small amount of rain, so the water has created its own channels to escape.”

Waverley Council, which manages the golf course, this week approved a plan to spend $80,000 on designing and constructing mitigation measures aimed at directing “the majority of overland flow” away from the direction of homes and towards the Bondi cliff edge.

Ridges caused by stormwater overflow on the golf course.

Sand that escaped from the golf course into the yard of a property in Bondi.

The approval was granted despite a council report stating it did “not have an obligation to manage natural flow paths from adjoining public reserves and is within its public duty to refrain from spending public moneys to contain overland flow within public reserves”.

A council report added that staff had been in “correspondence with residents” to assess an “appropriate long-term solution to the nuisance water”.

A spokesman said the council had also held “positive discussions” with the Bondi Golf Club regarding the third tee of the golf course, which will be temporarily closed during construction works.

Former councillor Sally Betts, who has been advocating on behalf of residents, believes the council should have taken action.

Former Waverley councillor Sally Betts.

She said the flooding was a result of questionable landscaping works on the golf course, including two small hills which pushed the flow of water in the direction of homes.

“Each time there’s a storm, it costs the council $10,000 to fix up the damage and that money could have been better spent addressing the problem,” she said.

Jeanette has supported the council’s plan to address the problem but wants interim measures, including large sandbags installed along her rear fence until the works are completed.

Damage to a home, caused by overflow from the golf course.

Residents say mud spills into their yards.

“Our backyard is totally unliveable and I doubt anyone on the council would want to live in our home right now, they wouldn't put up with it for five minutes let alone six months,” she said.

“It’s a hygiene issue, it’s disgusting and the whole situation is just appalling.”

The council spokesman said the council was “urgently exploring interim measures to mitigate impacts including providing sandbags to residents”.