Residents told to flee as trophy homes teeter

Residents along the central coast have been asked to evacuate as the coastal erosion crisis poses a major threat to their trophy Wamberal homes.

Luxury beachfront houses on Ocean View Drive in Wamberal on the NSW central coast are at risk of collapsing following massive tidal swell. Picture: David Swift

Residents along the battered NSW central coast have been asked to evacuate as the coastal erosion crisis poses a major threat to their trophy homes lining the coastline at Wamberal.

High tides thrashing the sea wall over the past four days have caused two luxury houses on Ocean View Drive to partially collapse, sparking fears that 18 “high-risk” neighbouring beachside properties will follow suit.

Parts of bathrooms, staircases, balconies and foundations have been exposed or fallen away as an east coast low caused strong waves to hammer the coast.

The Central Coast Council and emergency services are co-ordinating a response to help protect the homes and to remove residents from harm, and they have urged community members to steer clear of the area.

Beaches had been closed and the council had enlisted engineers to plan temporary recovery actions to try to salvage the properties in the short-term, the council said on Sunday.

“Our teams continue to monitor coastal infrastructure, beach access points and coastal lagoon levels and are on standby to assist with the removal of any fallen trees due to the winds,” the council announced in a statement posted on Facebook.

“We have closed off all beach access ways that lead onto major erosion areas at North Entrance, Wamberal and other major beaches.”

Residents of the 18 high-risk homes were notified on Sunday that their power, water and gas would be turned off within the next 48 hours.

Many made the decision to self-evacuate before the storm and high-tides hit after police started alerting them by going door to door.

Brisbane Water Police Commander Tony Joice has been appointed to oversee the emergency response, including crisis accommodation and community liaison.

Some homeowners used cranes to drop large boulders ­between their homes and oncoming waves on the weekend. Others have vented their frustration at the council, claiming they have been prevented from safeguarding their homes from a situation they knew was coming.

Conditions improved on Sunday but swells of up to 2m were still threatening properties as water lapped at the rear of homes on Ocean View Drive.

Central Coast mayor Lisa Matthews has called an extraordinary meeting for Monday night to discuss the ongoing crisis.