Monster swells devastate Port Noarlunga jetty as Marion Bay holiday shack swept away in wild weather

The Port Noarlunga jetty is closed to the public after huge waves during wild weather damaged part of the walkway, as a rural beachside shack is washed away. See the video.

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A beachside shack has been swept away during SA’s wild storms.

At Marion Bay on the Yorke Peninsula footage posted to social media showed a beachside shack being smashed and then washed ashore by massive waves.

The huge storm swells also smashed Port Noarlunga’s Jetty dislodging the planks in the middle of the walkway.

The jetty has since been closed to the public.

Port Noarlunga Jetty was severely damaged in yesterday’ storm. Picture: Dean Martin

Local Stephen Ellis said “big storms” have damaged “in one way or another” the jetty for the past fifty years.

“Really, this jetty sustains some serious damage every 10 years or so,” he said.

“This time, it’s the planks that took the hit because the ocean swell rose underneath the jetty and smashed it from the bottom.”

However, Mr Ellis speculated the closure of the jetty will not be of significant consequence to the locals.

“At this time of year, I can’t imagine this is a massive loss,” he said.

Mr Ellis also revealed locals on Monday had witnessed a group of young people jump from the jetty, onto the high tide with their boogie boards and let the waves bring them back in.

Locals Tracey Finch, Stephen Ellis, and John Belchamber, check out the damage. Picture: Dean Martin

The wooden planks were lifted up by huge waves. Picture: Dean Martin

A spokesperson from the Onkaparinga Council said the damage to the jetty was significant, with a popular nearby walking trail also closed “until further notice”.

“Yesterday morning we proactively closed the Port Noarlunga jetty and Witton Bluff Base Trail boardwalk to ensure public safety,” they said.

“While the new boardwalk is holding strong, there has been some damage to the jetty’s decking and a section of handrail.

“It will now take some time to complete engineer inspections and repair, so the jetty will remain closed until further notice.

“It’s too early to say how long it will remain closed or the costs involved, but we’ll keep the community up to date as soon as we know more.”

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Wild winds smash Broadway Kiosk windows

A seaside cafe has been smashed and inundated with sand, mud and seaweed from strong winds and high tides as the state was lashed by wild weather on Monday.

Broadway Kiosk part-owner Anthony McAllister-Davis said the wild weather “literally” wreaked havoc through his popular beachside cafe. 

The front windows were smashed in by the wind and the floors became flooded with the ocean “sand, mud, and seaweed”.

At the Broadway Kiosk, Glenelg, owner Anthony McAllister-Davis, says in the 17 years he has run the business, he has never experienced anything like yesterday’s storm. Picture: Dean Martin

“I’ve been running this place for 17 years and nothing like this has ever happened,” Mr McAllister-Davis told The Advertiser.

“We obviously always expect stronger winds or the ocean water to impact us to some degree being right next to it but when I learnt about this – I was like ‘sh*t’.”

Following the damage, the front windows have been removed from the hinges and set aside, however, there’s still a lot more work to be done.

There was extensive damage done to the kiosk, including several smashed folding doors. Picture: Dean Martin

“The ocean water rose so high it flooded the front of our cafe and even came into the kitchen … it’s left behind so much sand, mud, and seaweed but thankfully no fish or anything.

“We’ve been mopping floors since 5am to make this area available for customers again.”

Fortunately, the kiosk is insured, although the total repair bill is still to be determined.

A spokesperson for the Department for Infrastructure and Transport said a number of jetties had been damaged from the storm and was being assessed with the cost for repairs still too early to tell.

“Henley Beach and Semaphore jetties were both closed overnight but have reopened following safety assessments,” they said.

“The southern two lanes and the southern pontoon at the O’Sullivan Beach Boat ramp were also damaged and have been closed for repairs. The northern lanes and both northern pontoons remain open.”

“The cost of the damage is not yet known as we continue to assess jetties across the state.

“We are aware of several council-maintained jetties that are currently closed and will support impacted councils.”

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Power outages, severe weather warnings and traffic chaos

It comes as a fresh severe weather warning was issued for part of the state on Tuesday morning.

South Australia experienced wind gusts of up to 120km/h on Monday and – after an extended dry period – the heavy rains and strong winds saw trees being uprooted and dropping limbs, causing damage to the electricity network.

The storm front hits Adelaide. Picture: Brett Hartwig.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned demanding winds are still to come with a severe weather warning issued for people in parts of Flinders and Mid North districts.

According to SA Power Networks, between 9am and 4pm on Monday a cumulative total of 28,565 customers were impacted by outages.

It was estimated over 160 electricity wires were downed.

The power outage is also playing havoc with traffic, with traffic lights out across Adelaide, including at Somerton Park and Pooraka.

Flooding at Port Noarlunga. Picture: Supplied

SA Power Networks external affairs manager Cecilia Schutz said crews had been working hard to restore power.

“Our crews have made good progress, in challenging conditions, and will be working into the evening to safely restore power as quickly as possible,” she said.

“SA Power Networks cancelled the majority of planned works and mobilised all possible resources to respond to the damage, which has predominantly been in the metropolitan, Mount Lofty Ranges and Fleurieu regions.

“Safely repairing the network and restoring power will continue throughout the remainder of today and possibly beyond.

“We’ll continue to update customers as time frames become clearer.”

On Monday, floodwaters swamped a key road at Port Noarlunga, with traffic spilling onto surrounding roads and sparking gridlock in Adelaide’s south.

Major traffic delays were reported along Main South Road as police diverted motorists away from Saltfleet St in Port Noarlunga, which was swamped by late afternoon as fierce weather pummelled the state.

Originally published as Monster swells devastate Port Noarlunga jetty as Marion Bay holiday shack swept away in wild weather