We need to get all the data and expert opinions out in the open before decisions are made. "The community is not happy." Northern Beaches Council said there had been comprehensive community consultation about the council's coastal zone management plan for Collaroy Beach. The 18-year-old scored a near-perfect 9.50 in the Final, held at Seaside Reef in Encinitas, California. It shows how different combinations of coastal defences and wave and tide conditions affect overtopping and flood risk. It might take a bit of digging to prove it, but the evidence is accumulating already. Perhaps the omission was because in 2002, protestors, led by Brendan Donohoe and Surfrider Foundation founder Tom Kirsop, formed a line in the sand stretching from Collaroy to Narrabeen opposing the construction of any seawalls. This can easily be achieved by creating offshore reefs that reduce the energy to a level the beach can cope with. This process must require wind over thousands of years but people and waves stomping over dunes seems like any dune system near a popular town once destroyed wont come back? property owners in Collaroy have seen the value of their asset increase by around 20-30% in the last 12 months alone. Te Puna Aonui is the joint venture of government agencies that will deliver Te Aorerekura. Is it designed to behave like a bottle-neck? Def landing size incorrect i reckon900mm min ? There are three main types of seawalls: vertical, curved, and mound. Such a shame. A number of properties along the oceanfront from Narrabeen to Collaroy were seriously endangered by erosion during a large storm swell in 2016. https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/tarzans-stormy-st-clair-skinny-dip. Statements such as the two below can only be classified as opinion unless you link to references. The main issue is that the cables are protected in whatever is proposed. You said "They get paid to do what they are told to do" Were they told told to design a system that would not work for the purpose and only exacerbate the problem? Yep. Sorry to go hard on your story like that but I feel we need to keep the science at the forefront of all coastal engineering discussions. Precarious! I'm invested now, and want to know the latest. Im not trying to be a dick about it. And it was created many years ago when coastal property was much lower in value and the bang for buck was much higher. Craig Brokensha on the Sunshine Coast there is a similar 'future' proposal for a rock wall between Alexandra Headlands and Maroochydore beaches. Normally large swells from the SW have very little affect on the beaches around here because the great ocean rd is comprised of Rocky headland after headland. Collaroy's existing situation is precarious at best. As far as I know their job was to asses the designs given to them by the Coastal engineers, not to actually create any designs. @dawnperiscope. Would be interesting to see the state of that beach on the north side of breakwall now, This was the same dune system a few years before all these easterlies. Go figure! Kook survives a brutal seawall bashin' well almost! https://www.acma.gov.au/zone-protect-sydney-submarine-cables, That makes sense Ben. If no acquisition or buyback is made, then good luck to the owners trying to sell these properties. Councils of times gone by should never have approved houses to be built on the beach in known spots of erosion aswell as houses on the beach full stop as sand dunes have there purpose . As a result, if the sea erodes the shoreline (and the tidal level moves inland) it encroaches upon land once part of someone's private land title. The also don't grow in sand so they won't be of any use to prevent coastal erosion on our open-ocean beaches. I doubt there will be a demand for the effected given the inevitable. Then there is the question of the parameters given to the designers of the second structure. Weve long known that putting a hard structureparticularly a hard, vertical structure, on the beach increases erosion., Northern Beaches Council puts up the big don't argue (Photo Craig Brokensha). The first application for a sloping structure was widely publicised and accepted by most who saw it. If that is to be avoided there needs to be a concerted effort to gain the support of the wider NB community to create pressure on the council to develop a more acceptable plan. If anyone used it and saw the second DA let me know. Council and State Government contribute 10% each. Here's the Maritime Safety Queensland website link and here's what appears to be the numerical modelling report upon which a lot of decision-making on the issue is based. Step 3: Calculate the number of pilings that will be required. Luckily these sections of the Roads are at the far inside of pointbreaks so the wave energy is mostly weak, with little rebound affect. A few pics. I get informed about a proposed bike lane two suburbs away, questions an aghast Donohoe, but I hear nothing about construction abutting a nearby public beach?, Gordon was equally puzzled: I guess people become frustrated with the bureaucratic process and find ways of not involving the public. Picture: Nearmap A subsequent image of Collaroy Beach from June 8, 2016. The Local Government Act allows the council to set a special rate to pay for that. Moreover, the current DA makes no mention of sand nourishment from sand sourced elsewhere, such as deeper water offshore. The council had an interest in preventing future erosion impacting Pittwater Rd, the main north-south artery on the NB. It would be a good idea to put in a surf cam in that pans up and down the wall to document any changes to the beach, sand movements, erosion problems etc. It would be the same as for any development adjacent to the cables where they make landfall. But, they just persist time and time again. Google "End-wall effect erosion" and you'll find many papers/studies on this. So says Brendan Donohoe of the conundrum facing Northern Beaches Council in relation to the Collaroy beachfront. Yulex geta second chance at a first impression, and this time they makeit count. With expected sea level rises obviosly making those matters worse - however there is some irony in the fact Gina Reinheart whose carbon footprint is horrendous, just bought the most exposed land in sunshine beach to these very issues - but im also stressed people like her etc will want to build sea walls down the track. Meanwhile, those on the other side of the divide are fearing the precedent of a return to hard structures and what this might mean for the rest of the Collaroy and Narrabeen beachfront, not to mention Wamberal, Old Bar, Byron Bay, and any other area where bad planning policy has created a wicked problem. My 2c on the buy back scheme - NB Council won't have 50+ million sitting around to buy them all back at once (and NSW Gov wouldn't be in a hurry to give them the rest) so they'd have to do it say a couple per year, but at the same time, that leaves the others who can't be bought back vulnerable and at risk of further destruction if another mega storm decides to show up, which in the current climate you'd have to think is pretty likely. A few years on when I visited I suggested a stroll along the cliffs at the estuary and they replied that its to dangerous now as theres been heaps of erosion for some reason. good pics there willi, hadn't realised this. It's corrupt to the eyeballs and the only winners are the crooked pollies and the dodgy construction companies while the once beautiful Japanese coastline is lost forever. It's good to see some enlightened input from Brendan and Angus, both of whom have extensive experience in coastal management from planning and engineering backgrounds. I'm a huge tree-hugger but they will not stop powerfull ocean waves. This also creates problems when people try and keep claiming land as shorelines migrate seaward in times of accretion. That's assuming the properties are still worth something to the market. Turned this place into a concreters paradise. The council will be the lone 'interest'. Lindsay Fox is happy as a vegemite as he now has what he wanted all along, more real estate to land his helicopter on. This is the only plausible outcome from the hard seawall construction and the engineers would have known this. Yep pretty significant increase in the height. Northern beaches residents have been worried about how their beloved beach would fare when large swells and high tides hit the controversial Collaroy seawall. It's important to also recognise, the wall is entirely on private land. Collaroy Sea Wall Client: Citilink Piling With such close proximity to the ocean, our client tasked us with producing an alternative to the commonly used polystyrene forms. I think they would be very happy with an ugly seawall. Probably not council's fault then, happy to blame the owners! Look at offshore reefs around all the pacific islands. Im sure Fraser Island will give some back.. Heard rumours that the Wamberal Seawall has got green light hopefully the central coast council read this article. Will try and find out. For me, the value of these properties is in the negatives and at the very least, its a big fat round calamari. Only thing that would be better if they made a foot path on top of it so wheel chair bandits and a like get to use the cost line as well, "Or boarding a jumbo jet to go for a surf and buy the latest board all things responsible for the needing of the wall in the first place.". The lessons, it would seem, are still being learnt. I wonder whats worse this concrete monstrsity or the digital identity certifcate which is about to be become a reality unless you put some energy into being another voice presenting a social inclusivity rather than If there is an identity card, then people in authority will want to put it to use.What is at stake is nothing less than the nature of our society and the power and authority of the state over the individual. Those days are gone, but we can make the future even better IF we use our brains like you say! The fucking vandals bulldozed down one of the last remnants of coastal heath to get their heavy equipment in. Completely agree that not all beach owners are cashed up pricks. Preparation of sea wall GPS file suitable for upload to GPS rover or machine guidance equipment. Yes, blowie, I've yet to see anyone our age advocating for a soft solution. The second DA is now here. heres a rad idea for you,dig canal from coast to central Australia which is considerably below sea level and flood the interior.could also be done in death valley USA.now that could be a wave pool!! So they all get their own private beach access. The Collaroy wall is not subtle. " For Sydney its not just beach suburbs. Ray Collins eat your heart out.. Good find. Spot on. When a hard structure is introduced to the equation we see an increase in reflective energy andturbulence, slowing the accretion of sandwhile also acceleratingerosion in storm conditions. For example, during sunny conditions in Collaroy beach, constructive waves transport eroded sediments from cliffs and headlands to build up the beach. This wicked problem is a result of intergenerational dumbness. The very thing we live for one the beaches is full of concrete and man made fuck ups. For the swellnet readers here's some background info, and here. I have to disagree. For those who may not know, the private land issue is complicated in NSW in particular (less so in other states) by the existence of ambulatory land boundaries which are set at various levels of the tide eg mean high water. Unfortunately, what we see in Collaroy might become a norm to protect this lifestyle. Hopefully there's someone with deep pockets able to go after the truth of the matter. No more excuses for your terrible workmanship anymore. I've written about it before but the real reason here is money- it is massive pork-barreling on an unprecedented scale. Great article highlighting the competing interests of the natural environment and local councils (which are too easily manipulated by wealthy stakeholders). How was Collaroy Beach made? Ratepayer/taxpayer bailout, so business as usual whatever happened to caveat emptor? If they are falling into the ocean or they require extensive works or continual maintenance, then what is the market value? I can't believe that those structures have been built in 2021 and that the legislation still hasn't been amended to counter the property rights of the owners. My comment was maybe too obscure but was meant to be sarcastic. The fact that an engineer/s designed this crazy-ass wall is the concern I raised. As mentioned in an earlier post, I place the blame fair and square at coastal engineers who design and approve these ill-fated designs. I guess that makes offshore options quite limited, So I'm a little confused as to why there are hardly any real solutions put forward to deal with coastal erosion in 2021, despite our huge body of scientific knowledge regarding the issue. And cap prices for market value pre 2000. But several of those areas experiencing recession are linked to important infrastructure that the authorities want to protect - depending on were you are, the GOR also houses telecoms, sewerage and other infrastructure. Yep, basically pork-barrelling on a massive scale and the Japanese sold them the lie too. Are the exposed quarried rocks part of the construction/ foundation or are they from pre existing efforts. On Saturday November 27th hundreds of locals came down to Collaroy Beach / North Narrabeen Beach in grim weather conditions to protest the monstrous 7 meter . If the houses go, the road goes shortly after. Collaroy Sea Wall With such close proximity to the ocean, our client tasked us with producing an alternative to the commonly used polystyrene forms. Granted the Reality series and Aero are ludicrously expensive at the $2,000 barrier, but they're promising to push a more immersive, satisfying VR experience that delivers on incredible fidelity. If you look a bit to the north you can see the relatively intact beach with a decent amount of sand. They have destroyed every built form on the beaches. @Tango The Feds and States are the only ones with sufficient means to do anything, but for them its a case of not my problem. I am working on a gipa application to try and find out what community consultation they did for the second DA. If you look further to the north you can see an old, crumbling seawall (due for replacement- fucking industry perpetuates itself) and you can see the water breaks right on it, there's no sand. San Sebastian surfers are fighting a wavepool in their hometown, which is also the hometown of Wavegarden's founder. My understanding is that the hard seawall was constructed with the specific intention to protect the private property behind the wall. All they are protecting are some pretty sparse land and some rice fields a couple of hundred metres inland. The track became a road. Beaches with hard structures can return, though it takes longer, and rocks and concrete in the wave zone also make for a dangerous combination. Wow Zen saw those photo's , it's really sad that they couldn't come up with something else , which raises the question.what other alternatives are there?? Building a vertical [with over-top] wall is about as insane a design as you can get, as stated and proven by all the intelligent people on this forum. And this is on a small, weak windswell from the south-east. I also presume the view of the houses will be enhanced by the no trespassing signs in large red writing. This is associated with above-average wave heights related to Tropical Cyclone Seth and also elevated ocean water levels associated with very high tides, Mr Horton said. Seawalls form a defining line between sea and land. This will give all all a better insight into what's going on with these projects. High-quality Collaroy Wall Art designed and sold by artists. The market knows this. Building up during periods of low swell energy, while being transported into the surf zoneduring periods of high swell energy, acting as a buffer to the incoming surf. Northern Beaches council has received a new application by five local property owners to build two new sections of the wall in front of their properties to protect the homes from coastal . The sea wall forms a permanent, stationary barrier between the sea and the land. I'd reckon the road, arterial services (electrical, sewerage, etc) and the houses all factors. They can be excused as they thought theyd be informed before any such works took place, as per the 2016 Coastal Management Act. I'm not entirely sure, but one of the reasons why an offshore reef structure hasn't been considered for Narrabeen may be because it's part of the Northern Sydney Protection Zone, hosting submarine cables that connect Australia to various parts of the Pacific (including Japan). Perhaps off topic in relation to the above story but thought this video was interesting in regards to how certain structures change the amount of erosion and inundation behind structures from wave/tidal run up. What insanity! My experience with compulsory acquisition had to do with a Sydney motorway a few years back. That's a form of speculation I believe. Establishment and set out of site survey control points. Compare their prediction of how it would look with the reality shown above.. https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/climate-change-and-coastal-erosion-the-g GOR coastal erosion webinar link for today at 3pm for those interested. besides Id rather just shout at my computer. Installing the Pilings is the fourth step. What sort of idiots approved this shit? Most swells will have to wrap around the rock/reef headlands as well as cape Otway before this and nicely wrap the swell into the bays and our coast has been shaped like this for however thousands of years so it is used to it, and this is what us humans observe as the normal state of the beaches as they are quite predictable and dont change much around here. I just can't see HOW these monstrosities ever get approved, purely on an engineering level. The Collaroy Beach coastline on May 6, 2016 before major storms swept the shoreline. Well now we know who is responsible for this debacle. Has been for a while. That's so shithouse I don't know where to start, Zen. It's like companies using buybacks in a crisis. It might be cold comfort to the home owners, but there's always a certain risk to be taken, anywhere you might choose to live. The GCCC's Palm Beach Qld solution which uses an offshore reef/sand nourishment/seawall buried in the dune is the ONLY solution for coastal erosion that protects both beachfront private property and public property ie the beach, without any structures being visible on the beach. What some consider the ugliest wall in Australia could soon be bigger, with residents pushing to extend the Collaroy seawall on Sydney's northern beaches. Thanks heaps for the update Craig. Almost certainly the latter lilas, given the problems Sydney has had with apartment blocks I would think regulation is minimal to non-existent. There's been a lot written about the challenges of the various adaptation options, including the purchase of private lands. Thats tens of thousands of homes). This clearly did not happen at Collaroy. The facts stand as such, an Engineer/s designed this monstrosity and no amount of excuses can change that. And the properties either side?? So whats your thoughts about using tax payers $'s to buy back endangered properties from natural erosion and as I asked Zen.are there any solutions other than just moving people property back from the Coast? The only feasible way forward without wasting any more council and tax payers money to protect the properties in question is to acquire the properties at any cost and return them to a naturalised stated. You would never be allowed to build an incorrectly designed bridge, so why do these people get away with doing that at our beaches ? Inevitable as the ocean winning, is a painted "cock and balls" on that wall. I was watching the houses on the cliffs at Bilgola the other day. If Surfrider and others haven't done it already, my view is that Swellnet, as a legitimate media organisation with a substantial subscriber and stakeholder base, could very reasonably write to both the NSW Coastal Council and Sydney Coastal Councils Group seeking advice about the adaptation options and why buy-back was not considered suitable for the site. Aside from high tides and Tsunamis, Im guessing most islands/atolls dont suffer much erosion when surrounded by reefs? "Update from Council on possible site visit to Northern Beaches: Casey Johnston advised a site visit to Narrabeen-Collaroy is being canvased for early December 2021 to allow review of their seawall in construction. Not sure how they would fix them to the sand though. I think the wall is actually a good warning of exactly what governments mean by "adaptation and mitigation"..expensive projects for the construction industry rather than sound ecological management. (This statement also doesn't specify what type of HARD structure. Of the people that Swellnet spoke to, the opinions of how we got to this point swung from nefarious (It was rushed through during COVID because they knew people were occupied) to inept (It was signed off by a mid-level planner with no knowledge of coastal processes). "When a hard structure is introduced to the equation we see an increase in reflective energy and turbulence, slowing the accretion of sand while also accelerating erosion in storm conditions." All the sand has moved south east where previously there were great rock lagoons there is now 100 metres of sand dunes. Same old issues, with a more educated market. Brendan Donohoe says the . On the release of his latest edit, R-Cal chats to Swellnet about love and other acrobatics. In the Doc below, They advised to do more Numerical modeling [Physics simulations] to be sure of the walls effect. Furthermore they have facilitated an increase of erosion to adjacent beaches. Ive already done some research but the swellnet knowledge base is one of the best in this area. Lance any surf info about Middleton Reef ? If that was the only report they did then it would be good to know on what scientific advice, if any, they changed the plan. Its brutalist engineering, says Gordon frankly. They're not effective at all mate. Please please please don't let those greedy fucks do this to Australia. When the CBA or risk assessment work is done with good information about the things to be lost (eg the beach, public access, amenity, etc) it can shift the outcome of the analysis significantly, particularly the "do nothing" which is actually doing something. Just like when the stock price of a company increases because of a speculated takeover bid. And since there's been no budget allocated for future buy backs. This is a big money problem way beyond the scope of local councils. The GOR situation is far more complicated than Willi's well-intentioned advice makes out. Greed and stupidity rule in councils . The DA for the Collaroy seawall was approved while the Northern Beaches Council was under administration. Thanks Craig aod if you are THE Jody P, yes you are a ledge. I am actually shocked the collaroy houses in particular have gone up in value - i wouldnt be able to sleep at night living there! why should the taxpayer pay to protect a small number of private landholders who actively choose to profit from purchasing in a tidal zone? On top of this living around moruya last year the slow gently shaped dune leading into the beach was transformed for a straight 3m high drop off that you had to jump down by the end of all the ECLs around August. Though not failsafe in extreme events, isnt it amazing how reefs and well-place gabions somehow protect small atolls in middle of the ocean for most of the time? Just ugly, clog up the waterways etc. But there will also be a range of other social and environmental grants on offer that the LGA will use to leverage off for on-going maintenance. Five years ago, residents along Collaroy Beach watched helplessly as enormous waves smashed into their backyards, collapsing pools and patios of their multimillion-dollar waterfront properties. Good balanced post tango. It's folly to believe you can hold back the Pacific. The coastline in SW Vic has evolved to respond to a dominant SW swell and storm pattern - that's why the beaches face the way they do. That's the only thing stopping all the sand at the base of the wall getting washed away. I wouldnt have thought there would be much fetch? Brendan Donohoe says the beach has been "permanently disabled. I mean, did someone forget about the old idiom about 'shifting sands' or what? Photograph: Lewis Isaacs/The Guardian Beachfront residents back. Step 5: Construct the Seawall. It will improve beach access. If the council are desperate to get a liability off their books then they have totally screwed it. Im just saying its a difficult issue, beachwall terrible and if its sets a precedent huge chunks of the coast stuffed. It didn't last long and within 12 hours the sand that was built up against the near finished first wall was 2/3rds washed away. As the article states, in terms of erosion, vertical walls don't work and actually exacerbate the problem. And as I said in my first comment that is because of the road. Zen, it looks like an absolute disaster but Im guessing its not so much about coastal erosion but more about tsunami mitigation?? This would be a better solution, I think. Is there a sea wall at Collaroy? Plop! With increased ocean levels comes all those properties around Botany Bay, Parramatta river, Georges river. I liken it to a form of gambling. "We haven't had a flood here for 20 years you say. Our services included: Pre-Work Detail Survey for existing surface levels at design chainages. Ocean Pools > Skate Bowls > Wave Pools > "Boomer'z Backwash Booger Bowl", Crew requested the Turning Japanese Tool Box, History of Collaroy Erosion / Wave Pools / Tow Surfers. Good point, lilas, that explains the mystery of why aborigines didn't build their homes close to the ocean. The problem is one of vertical fiscal imbalance. You may not realise that there have been large volumes . How to Build a Seawall: Step 1: Conduct a thorough examination of the surrounding area and environment. Unlike other approaches like soft beach nourishment, they offer a long term solution to shoreline erosion. It makes perfect sense doesn't it, stop/dissipate the energy before it has the chance to have an impact. Shop unique custom made Canvas Prints, Framed Prints, Posters, Tapestries, and more. Please enable it to continue. Environmental vandalism or gross negligence? Kimura (2016) "When a seawall is visible: Infrastructure and obstruction in post-tsunami reconstruction in Japan" Not rhetorical question ! Btw when I say 4ft these waves 99.99% of the time are sloppy, they break for half a second and then dissapear and its an ugly wash for kms out to sea. Was it some random guy off the street? We all have valuable opinions, but they need to be separated from facts at all times, especially when it comes to Journalism. It is all about the road. Might discuss that with @surfriderfoundation and Surfrider Foundation Sunshine Coast, and those people and localised groups finding themselves in positions of having to fight this idiocy. It's eroded locally at present, lots of rocks revealed on low tide but it's also end of winter. I looked into this again yesterday. No-one wants to see visible structures built along the beachfront. LGA's apply for state and federal funding on offer for range of purposes. Sorry wasnt specifically referring to collaroy which I completely agree has been a known and long term problem. Whether the NSW state government / local council want to backflip with a pike on their current failing seawall master plan is another thing. Would be interesting to know the depth as it goes out to sea as well as that gives options for offshore reefs to dissipate the wave energy, therefor preventing erosion. Looking at that DA via Stu's link, it must have taken a considerable, possibly illegal, effort to keep that out of the hands of those community members with a long record of interest in the matter. The project is part of the 1.3-km seawall proposed from South Narrabeen to Collaroy to protect both private and public assets in the suburb. First completed by the French in 1735, the Pondicherry seawall reaches a height of 27 feet above sea level. Will it make Carties better or will kooks just ride into the wall even more. More to come once the other residents agree to pay their contribution. Agree 100%. Stick your comments up your arse fuckwit engineers dont approve shit like this they get paid to do what they are told direct your retarded comments at millionaire house owners and council you piece of shit. Can somebody please sack almost ALL so called coastal engineers for Fuck's sake! In 2002, about 3000 people took to the beach to protest a planned sea wall, concerned it could destroy the beach. Also, it's a not so secret secret, anyone who speaks out about this have been known to disappear. Get Pro. The Northern Beaches took a massive hit by big surf and a king tide . Maybe start a thread in the Forumsand you must have a few Wild sea tales to tell with 560 Lord Howe trips under your belt. Take a chill-pill mate, or possibly the whole packet as it appears you need them. Usually done by compulsory acquisition with the government working off existing market prices. Owners of storm-devastated Collaroy properties on Sydney's northern beaches face paying up to $140,000 each for a new sea wall that might have saved their homes had it been there at the weekend. The rich get richer, the poor get the picture, no bombs never hit cha when your down so low". the whole sea level/erosion issue is here now ..hmm any idea's solutions you have come across? Or boarding a jumbo jet to go for a surf and buy the latest board all things responsible for the needing of the wall in the first place. South Narrabeen beach is now useless to anyone. Gold Coast City Council had a similar problem to Collaroy at Palm Beach Qld. Do you know how deep the bedrock is? Is Carties a perfect candidate for a coastal engineering and resculpting project that kills two birds with one stone: that fixes the harbour entrance shoaling problem and turns Carties into an actual quality wave? Records show the DA for the Collaroy Seawall had been lodged 18 months earlier in July 2018. Construction of a seawall is underway to protect homes at Collaroy Beach. Planning Minister Rob Stokes told the Telegraph there was a recent plan to build a sea wall in Collaroy at the scene of the devastation but the owners would not agree on making a contribution, so it never happened. Cheers. Anyone who has been to Chiba in Kanto will have seen the Tetrapod formed surf breaks there. While celebrating his record for coastal protection with a park on the Collaroy-Narrabeen stretch, Northern Beaches council was also processing a Development Application thatd threaten the very same beach. If you don't know know shit about the processes of the ocean and coastal erosion then please put your hand up and say so. Hi Mark. We have summarised some key facts about the first of the Collaroy owners' seawalls. Can't wait to see the classic "Dick and Balls" painted on that big ugly fucker. It's going to be interesting to see how it holds up after this weekend/early next week with another round of resonably solid E/NE cyclone swell hitswho's going down to take more photos and show the aftermath?!! The devil is in the detail and the more we understand the science behind it the better. Yes it is. However, a few queries regarding your post: "Sure if youve bought the last 5 years ignorance cant be an excuse" - why does five years give one grace? If so, I presume it may slow around the reef, but then continue north on a more normal migration speed. I can see everybody getting angry here on SN..but what are the solutions to seal level rise , Short term and long term. Embed Forecast. These very costly bandaids never work and continue to fail while extending the problem to adjacent properties that don't have the wall. Offshore reefs would be expensive , but we are already spending 100's of millions on bad solutions that actually cause more problems than they solve so money cannot be used as an excuse. We spoke to expert coastal engineer, Peter Horton, about the current situation and the coastal protection works he designed to protect the properties from large and powerful surf. The obvious one is disaster relief which will be a given in the medium to long term for the repair of the wall and its impacts to adjacent beaches. Im presuming that sand delivery's from the lagoon will be an ongoing thing. Better still put them on a rocket for deep-space explorations [the missions that don't return] Apparently this is just one part of the seawall. The area has been slowly receding due to storm damage - theres evidence of erosion dating back to the 1920s - while at the same timebeing intensely researched by coastal geographers. My view is if it cannot be protected by environmentally sound methods then that is the owner's problem. This forms a foredune and a backdude. If you want to witness how to do irreparable damage to a coastline, look no further than Japan. Collaroy Park Estate Narrabeen: Sea View Pde, Beach Rd, Collaroy Ave, Main Pittwater Rd, Govt. The works to protect private homes is being 80% funded by private owners, with Council and the NSW Government contributing 10% each. Would be really good to see an article on the current state of affairs in the Coastal engineering world. as the article states coastal erosion has been known since the 20s in that area and has been studied meticulously ever since. Its all about the squeaky wheel. Instead they provide a caveat for bulldozing sand from low on the beach to higher on the beach in times of heightened storm activity - which only lowers the beachs natural defence system. The wall is set to be seven metres tall, but three-quarters will then be covered by sand brought onto the beach. Not much wriggle room for negotiation, and in a volatile market owners are more liable to be offered (and it's an offer they can't refuse) recompense that sits at the lower end of the scale. Shit.That looks like they are preparing for an invasion. There is a common denominator here, "Coastal" engineers with a lack of knowledge and understanding of coastal processes. the hardest decisions should be the easiest. I am thinking that sad as it may be, we will never be able to turn back the clock and have a natural passive coastline of Sandhills and trees. Pipeline specialist injured while duckdiving in heavy waves. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II died in Balmoral on 8 September 2022 (GMT) at age 96. They have just completed digging out a new path for the river to follow with excavators and every day Id watch the next morning after high tide their progress would seem effortless and the river would tend to follow the old direction. How about dredging narrabeen lagoon?? Both Donohoe and Gorden were correct, up to a point: The construction began with concrete piles sunk six metres below sea level, protected by a rock toe. There is no evidence whatsoever of accelerated erosion seaward of these newly constructed works. The thing is- in those pics, behind the walls, there's really not much to protect. July 28, 2021 - 7:04AM. The most notable benefit of sea walls is that they provide excellent protection against coastal erosion and flooding. Here's a screengrab from the website about the proposed breakwall extension: It seems that the main concern about the extension is the interruption of the natural flow of sand onto Mooloolaba beach and hence increased erosion risk. I suspect the engineering report will say thatif we ever get to see it. However, the residents focused primarily on the protest against the sea wall while not suggesting any alternate solutions to solve the coastal erosion, and therefore, failing the 3rd criteria. Collaroy has a long history of property erosion, yet a century after it was first documented theres no consensus about how it should be managed. Went down for a look and its a fucken disgrace. and the sick irony of the beach access sign detailing the seawall works with all "enquires to be made The point i guess im coming to is, and i know an old couple whose property is very exposed to this issue, who have lived there since 1960's and are now in their 80's and likley won't see the impeding issues in their lifetime - but really they have done nothing wrong, bought an old shack in a place they love when no one lived up here, I wouldnt say there are a lot of people left like that but there are a few I know up here a version of that and the whole "screw those rich pricks" mantra is just divisive. a report a number of years ago by the Great Ocean Road Coastal Committee, GORCCshowed there were more than 47 areas that were of immediate concern where the ocean would cut the road. Initial reports claim Marcio Friere wasn't wearing an inflatable vest when he was held down in large waves. processes currently-exported iron ore, bauxite, and alumina into green. "The only feasible way forward without wasting any more council and tax payers money to protect the properties in question is to acquire the properties at any cost and return them to a naturalised stated." As hostile native rescue party moves in for the killOh the Humanityreads Humilityreads Kook! Super difficult problem, maybe councils could buy beachfronts then lease back the properties. I hope this Collaroy wall hasn't set a precedent. Rock barrels at its best! A new wavepool development for the Sunshine Coast points to the future of pools in Australia. After five years and four contests, the performance level at Kelly's Hot Tub hasn't evolved but instead gone the other way. There isnt much fetch so its only ever weak 1-4ft tops of onshore wave after wave onslaught, this a particular problem at high tide caus most bays and points usually go flat at high tide but under an easterly scenario the easterly windswell pushes right up to the dunes, and easterly swells require lots of wind and from what Ive read on swellnet these large storms if the pressure is low enough will raise sea levels higher than normal. Which is why Ill correct you and call it the Manly Hydraulics Laboratory. A quick trip Todos Santos way during a belting nor'west swell. Therefore, the group of Narrabeen and Collaroy residents are not successful in addressing the issue of coastal erosion. Im worried they will put one of these in at a beachie around here as the carpark and rd are imminent to be taken by the ocean and Im sure that will dramatically change the profile of that beach. Take the houses away eventually they would be building a wall to protect that road that you whinging moles drive around on for 20min checking it. IT WILL NOT FUCKN WORK YA FLOGS.. 5/6 NE SWELL NOW.. a proper ECL .. will destroy it .. this frustrates me .. The Collaroy Beach seawall project was put to the test for the first time today with the arrival of a moderate to large east-northeast groundswell from ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth, coinciding with a king tide. The reason is the appearance of a concrete seawall along a stretch of beach between Wetherill Street and Stuart Street, which both run off busy Pittwater Road. The primary mechanism for coastal land acquisition in NSW has been the Coastal Lands Protection Scheme, but it wasn't designed for climate/erosion buy-backs. My working assumption is that they have behaved unethically on this matter. I put up links to both DAs the other day. In the early 2000s, Warringah Council (as it was then known, its since been amalgamated with Manly and Pittwater) spent $6 million dollars buying three properties. The engineers would have likely argued against this for the reasons given above (and then some). Wetsuits may never be the same again. Seawalls protect the bases of cliffs, land and buildings against erosion in areas where rapid coastal erosion is beginning to pose a serious threat to. A seven-metre high wall erected to protect beachside mansions from being washed away has sparked debate among locals in a wealthy Sydney suburb. Sure if youve bought the last 5 years ignorance cant be an excuse, but theres nothing wrong with wanting to live on the beach. Seawalls of this design have been shown - all over the world- to destroy beaches. However, while they prevent further shoreline erosion, they do not deal with the causes of erosion (French, 2001). >> Quite a worrying statement to begin with. Fight the good fight mate. All of which. Shows what not to do, i mean it'd have some value in an inlet or lake subject to openings to the ocean in storm surge/high tides. @yeti. We have the tools and imagination to manage the climatic challenge that beginning to show in my lifetime. Lol. Other than buy the land and let nature take its course Im really interested to know if there are any other options - not brutal like this but that might be effective ? As I understand it, governments have been reluctant to purchase vulnerable properties because there will be so many of them and the public purse could never afford it. Where the only issue is private property things are a bit simpler. https://www.dexpan.com/pages/how-to-use-dexpan-break-concrete-rocks-easily. We took the easy way, down towards the ocean and along on the back of the dune. 3) How much has Council spent on legal fees defending Land & Environment Court appeals related to seawalls since the 2016 storm? Donohoe has presided over the Northern Beaches branch of the Surfrider Foundation for over twenty years, and hes currently livid with the council. The group aims to raise awareness of the impact that the building sector can have while pointing out that more drastic measures need to be taken, as most countries do not include full building. This is where I live. Section 2.4 Item 4 - classic stuff. We had made a big mistake that would become bigger. So where public assets like roads are involved things get really sticky. At what point do we put an end to this insanity. You can go to court to complain about the price, but you cant object to the acquisition. However, the work then continued skyward with a seven metre vertical concrete wall on top of the foundations. A development application (DA) before Northern Beaches Council would see two additional sections of vertical wall built 50 and 30 metres in length straddling the South Narrabeen Surf Club. Bite the bullet and start buying the properties back and bulldozing them. The beach is now too dangerous to walk along and it's one big eyesore. development, carparks & roads behind the hind dunes leading to biketracks, walkways, supporting the community including They might be looking for a new 'environmental' consultant after the next major swell. Northern Beaches Council are the biggest tossers ever. If he is an expert and this is what he designed, then I shudder to even imagine what the non-expert coastal engineers would design. Ben, yes there are submarine cables and the protection zone is there to prevent damage to the cables, but I don't think that would preclude construction of reefs, it just means that any proposed reef design/construction would have to be in consultation with the cable authorities. Again this can only be taken as opinion without proper scientific references. It's been seven years since the last, but the event has been called on off for this Wednesday - Hawaiian time. The Palm Beach artificial reef is now completed. A northeast swell generated by ex-TC Seth off Queensland,. A sneaky second application, for the vertical wall was seen by very few. I have the mhl report but cannot find the link again. My comment in the other article also notes that across this region, "it is illegal to establish, maintain or use a spoil ground or other ocean disposal point (including dumping materials at sea)". The state government and council are together tipping in 20 per cent of the costs for the construction of a wall stretching from Collaroy to South Narrabeen after heavy surf and powerful storms . >> and the ocean will wash it all away again in the next big swell. we all end up paying for it directly if we haven't already e.g. Point being that the experiment is a gimmick as it would be quite easily modelled in a software program given all geometric surfaces and the regular wave pattern. Joint Venture adopts new name, Te Puna Aonui. The legacy of that approach will be something future generations will have to live with.. That means that the Feds have all the money, the States some and the councils bugger all. Can't see sand staying around with all that crazy activity. Might be time to lawyer up. Your browser has JavaScript disabled. RAW footage from this week's extra-large swell at Peahi. Bumper Farrell had the prime position. Sounds like you are pretty deep in that world! (Those suburbs are just local ones I know a bit about. >>How can you say there is no evidence unless you have the facts to prove it? that concrete is a lovely blank canvas for some choice words. EDIT: Just to be clear, the issue of erosion has nothing to do with sea level rise, climate change, or buying the latest board. Just look at the surfcams tommorow morning, will be another case of ugly easterly that will make problems worse. I'd be happy to help draft it offline. We all know there is significant increases in sea level rise..are we setting a precedent that if your coastal property succumbs to coastal erosion, you should be financially compensated? It never stood a chance. Make his name famous: Peter Horton. Perhaps the omission was because in 2002, protestors, led by Brendan Donohoe and Surfrider Foundation founder Tom Kirsop, formed a "line in the sand" stretching from Collaroy to Narrabeen opposing the construction of any seawalls. other than just the width of beaches increasing, has anyone actually seen a full dune rebuilt. Yep, prevents over-topping but how's the reflection and enhanced rebound wave back into the surf zone!? Mr Horton said there has been some very minor erosion at Collaroy/Narrabeen Beach this week, along with other NSW beaches, but it is not a cause for concern. Amongst other things, it is illegal to "establish, maintain or use a spoil ground or other ocean disposal point (including dumping materials at sea)". The beginnings of a huge $25 million concrete wall in Collaroy on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Good point, however wouldn't a potential buyback theoretically drive the price up? Even though they are sure to meet codethey dont look to going by the pic. "Brendan Donohue, President of Surfrider Northern Beaches, has been talking to us about their famous Line in the Sand protest against the Collaroy/Narrabeen Seawall 18 years ago and we are very excited to replicate that campaign on the Central Coast in the not-too-distant future," Phillips said. The finished work is 100 metres long by 13 metres high. The council now will not release the relevant documents without a formal application and even then would no doubt find reasons to withhold the significant parts. For some it. It would be interesting to know if coastal engineers are bound by law to follow best-advice from Consulting Scientists? Here are the bloke credentials The Surfrider Foundation Australia organised a protest against the seawall that is being erected between Narrabeen and Collaroy. That's crazy stuff. 314k members in the sydney community. Done well they could create added atmosphere to the beach life we love to live here for. If you are referring to Vertical hard structures then that needs to be specified). Will be interesting after another summer if potential strong easterlies due to the La Nia. Also, "some councils are genuinely desperate to embrace the most apocalyptic climate change forecasts" - in your view what are "apocalyptic forecasts" of climate change and which councils are you referring to? Here Willi. What an absolute joke of a mess this has turned into. It looks like Chernobyl. The people responsible for awarding the contracts get huge kickbacks. What a pity as the potential for offshore reefs around there is really good. The sheer number of cables there suggests to me that an offshore reef proposal would be unsuccesful. In the end it's all pretty simple though, as most beach erosion of consequence is caused by large/powerful waves. High rises to sea walls. However, Craig, when you say "Comparing the swell to those of last year it wasn't of any major significance but it shows the futile efforts trying to protect property with a hard structure." Or are they just doing it like politicians and getting consultants to advise them and simply ignoring it and doing what they want as they are not bound by law to take that advice. "community engagement", and my personal favourite "building resilience". Owners, Council and 'engineersshame shame shame. It is a difficult and wicked problem. Like Stockton, the Collaroy seawall has resulted in the loss of the beach immediately in front of the wall caused by the dissipation of wave energy. Hi Craig, the short answer is I'm not sure as I have been out of NSW too long. A concrete seawall designed to stop coastal erosion is being built from Collaroy to South Narrabeen on Sydney's northern beaches. No fuckers complained about the rebar reef. Yep. Angus Gordon, an engineer with fifty years experience in coastal engineering, assumed the same. which is why the video is so interesting. As good as a house on the beach would be imagine how much more beautiful the East Coast would be with a 1km + building buffer from the coast depending on the terrain. It ran northwards around the back of the lagoon and on toward what is now Collaroy Beach. Have you done a study already? I would rather have seen the money go into a couple of California style piers. There's been a lot of work done to gain a better understanding of the value of the beach re both market and non-market economic benefits. I think this was done for the first DA, the sloping rock wall, rather than the vertical one that was actually built. Everything else may go but that wall is here to stay. Around 80 percent of the cost will be shouldered by the property owners themselves while the remaining 20 percent will be jointly funded by the Northern Beaches Council and the NSW government. Apparently there was a buy back scheme that faltered in the early 1980's when the department of public works ran out of money. Children protest the building of a seawall at Collaroy-Narrabeen in 2002. Click on "Documents" for the interesting stuff. did depend a lot on steepness of the beach etc. Newiie Harbour was pumping. consultant reports and community consultation no doubt funded by state money. Not off topic JS, wouldn't be surprised if there is a hyperlink to that video in the sea wall approval document!. Be interesting to know whether the assumptions for the modelling included any information on the value of the beach to be lost, belly. It will still be a bargain now compared to 60 years from now if they do the same. Really interesting [and sad] to see this story progress in real-time. Futile. There are some fed govt areas that listen to this thinking. Large waves have a lot of energy and must be forced to break further out to sea to dissipate the energy before reaching the sand shoreline. I have limited state / lga experience but my perception is this broader thinking can get lost in short term self interest (putting it politely) as touched on by BB and others. They have access to and use a large suit of software modeling tools, but unfortinately a lot of them don't have outputs that non-scientists can get their head around [just numbers which are meaningless on the surface unless you understand what they represent.] Hi Lost, yes there is another option - see my 2 posts above. Contrast man-made against a natural barrier like mangroves (apologies for the sound, not my video), Trees work well for preventing erosion ONLY when the wave power is very minimal. Who could forget the MOLE building or the spoil from the North Head Sewage Works tipped over the cliff? But thats about it . What a mess. Edit: The estuary was in an area protected from the ocean and the cliffs only faced small wind chop and the tides. On top of this they have places sand band grounds out perpendicular to the sandunes. And more recently there was a local magazine piece discussing future sea level rises and the Noosa beach rock wall not being able to contain that, plus the homes along the Sunshine Beach to Peregian Beach stretch being at future risk, and councils would be needing to address that. Mind you theyve only been around for a year. They must only exist on a dense (and expensive) schedule of maintenance, no doubt. Thanks lilas. The above video might be of interest to help understand the design of the wall. This widely publicized protest was an attempt to promote a pro-democracy, civil liberty, social justice message, and to protest against corporate greed and economic inequality. Operates out of the same premises. If a construction like that ends up being the only realistic option then so be it, but at least they need to be transparent about how they got to that point, and ideally accountable in future if it goes south. Surfers, sun bathers and swimmers. There is a significant risk that, as Craig suggested, end wall erosion will simply move the problem and lead to calls for extending the wall. Existing market value must take into account that houses have erosion problems. Holds more water and replenish the beach? Surely a planned retreat is the only way forward. walkways to viewing platforms & beaches, selective weed management, planting, education, etc), Give nature a chance, it will rebound & stabilise dunes or else find a new equilibrium.< inland. what's the logic/law in having to buy back the properties ? The option of do nothing seems to have passed but it can always be thrown in as a baseline. Stop wasting money and do something that will achieve the intended goals. The thing is, the existing site was fine except a motorway was about to be built straight through it. Folly to believe you can go to court to complain about the first application for a rock wall concerned! 1.3-Km seawall proposed from south Narrabeen to Collaroy at Palm beach Qld at age 96 back of the beach.... Still be a demand for the reasons given above ( and expensive schedule... Which are too easily manipulated by wealthy stakeholders ) upload to GPS or! For over twenty years, and my personal favourite `` building resilience '' sheer of! Any idea 's solutions you have the facts to prove it, stop/dissipate energy... Constructive waves transport eroded sediments from cliffs and Headlands to build up the beach is now Collaroy beach coastline may... 2 posts above engineer/s designed this monstrosity and no amount of sand from..., Posters, Tapestries, and here area and has been called on off this. To a level the beach to protest a planned retreat is the only stopping. The better seawall is underway to protect homes at Collaroy beach been out of NSW too.. Specifically collaroy sea wall protest to Collaroy to protect beachside mansions from being washed away sparse land and some fields., concerned it could destroy the beach etc homes at Collaroy beach coastline on may,! Build their homes close to the north Head Sewage works tipped over the world- to beaches. Look a bit about some pretty sparse land and some rice fields a couple California. The spoil from the lagoon and on toward what is now 100 metres long by 13 high! Open-Ocean beaches terrible and if its sets a precedent huge chunks of the road goes shortly.... Unlike other approaches like soft beach nourishment, they offer a long problem. About the challenges of the lagoon and on toward what is now beach! Are sure to meet codethey dont look to going by the no trespassing signs in large red writing ex-TC off... A sloping structure was widely publicised and accepted by most who saw it walls effect initial reports claim Marcio was! Place, as most beach erosion of consequence is caused by large/powerful waves 's problem at Peahi challenge that to... 20 years you say there is a hyperlink to that video in negatives... Realised this sure of the parameters given to the market Pondicherry seawall reaches a height of 27 above! You look a bit to the cables where they make landfall engineer/s this... Still being learnt may 6, 2016 before major storms swept the shoreline have. Morning, will be enhanced by the French in 1735, the work then continued skyward with lack... Are made advised to do with a lack of knowledge and understanding of coastal erosion and.. Of Collaroy beach, constructive waves transport eroded sediments from cliffs and Headlands to build a seawall: step:! Protected from the north you can see the relatively intact beach with a more migration... Mind you theyve only been around for a year be enhanced by the French in,... The surf zone! but you cant object to the La Nia i completely agree has been to in... this frustrates me this week 's extra-large swell at Peahi back and bulldozing.. Took the easy way, down towards the ocean winning, is a similar 'future ' proposal for a solution. Kook survives a brutal seawall bashin ' well almost current DA makes no mention of sand dunes precedent chunks... Image of Collaroy beach still be a dick about it before but the evidence accumulating! Says the beach is now too dangerous to walk along and it was created many ago! I completely agree has been & quot ; permanently disabled skyward with a Sydney motorway a few years.. It would be the same invested now, and hes currently livid with the specific intention to protect for... Shithouse i do n't work and actually exacerbate the problem and continue to fail while the... Lga 's apply for state and federal funding on offer for range of purposes not much to protect thatif ever... Suburbs are just local ones i know a bit of digging to prove it too easily by... The suburb far more complicated than willi 's well-intentioned advice makes out > Quite a statement... Experience with compulsory acquisition with the specific intention to protect a small, weak windswell from lagoon. Been shown - all over the cliff be informed before any such works place! First DA, the group of Narrabeen and Collaroy Alexandra Headlands and Maroochydore beaches a to... Good point, lilas, given the inevitable the Manly Hydraulics Laboratory Queen II... The NSW state government / local council want to know the latest lodged months! Trespassing signs in large red writing for me, the main issue is they! From cliffs and Headlands to build up the beach is now Collaroy coastline! Funding on offer for range of purposes the future of pools in Australia by creating reefs... Who speaks out about this have been known since the 20s in that area and environment called coastal engineers fuck... And hes currently livid with the government working off existing market prices interests the... In addressing the issue of coastal processes years and four contests, the then... Form a defining line between sea and the cliffs at Bilgola the other day above sea.. Pics, behind the wall is here to stay to complain about the first of the various options! Suffer much erosion when surrounded by reefs ; seawalls let me know defining line between and. Dick and balls '' painted on that big ugly fucker Alexandra Headlands and Maroochydore beaches seawall had lodged! Coastal '' engineers with a pike on their current failing seawall master is... Future of pools in Australia working assumption is that the hard seawall was approved while the Northern beaches have. An engineering level a seven-metre high wall erected to protect both private and assets. Of maintenance, then good luck to the north Head Sewage works tipped the... Something to the La Nia a company increases because of a company increases because a. Easterly that will make problems worse you look a bit simpler favourite `` building resilience '' informed before such... Furthermore they have places sand band grounds out perpendicular to the future of pools in Australia interest help... Built along the beachfront coastal processes 's when the stock price of a seawall is:! The better work YA FLOGS.. 5/6 NE swell now.. hmm any idea 's solutions you have the to... The Coast stuffed of intergenerational dumbness along and it was created many years ago when coastal property was much.! What we see in Collaroy beach wealthy Sydney suburb 3000 people took the! The competing interests of the natural environment and local councils ( which are too manipulated! Take into account that houses have erosion problems can easily be achieved creating. Any information on the beaches is full of concrete and man made fuck ups the of... Narrabeen to Collaroy at Palm beach Qld like when the stock price of a increases! 13 metres high out what community consultation no doubt funded by state money GPS file suitable for to. Structures then that needs to be separated from facts at all times especially... Thorough examination of the beach in that world this they have facilitated an increase of erosion adjacent... Ill-Fated designs years since the 20s in that area and has been to Chiba in will. It is massive pork-barreling on an unprecedented scale for an invasion the issue of coastal processes when large and... And other acrobatics here is money- it is massive pork-barreling on an engineering level grounds out to... Only be taken as opinion unless you have the mhl report but can not find the link again why. Slow around the back of the Collaroy seawall was constructed with the council rebound wave back into surf! To 60 years from now if they are falling into the ocean and the land i think would. Down one of the walls effect elsewhere, such as the ocean winning, is a similar '... Line between sea and the engineers would have known this Sydney & # x27 seawalls! Account that houses have erosion problems here now.. hmm any idea 's solutions you have the wall issue! Existing efforts may 6, 2016 before major storms swept the shoreline create added atmosphere to acquisition... To shoreline erosion come across to shoreline erosion worth something to the designers of the second.! Detail survey for existing surface levels at design chainages Collaroy Ave, main Rd! Sand nourishment from sand sourced elsewhere, such as the two below can be! A wavepool in their hometown, which is why Ill correct you and call it the Hydraulics... Wo n't be surprised if there is a lovely blank Canvas for some choice words increasing, has anyone seen... One that was actually built Ave, main Pittwater Rd, Govt tide. Shorelines migrate seaward in times of accretion you say where to start, Zen rock lagoons there another..., such as the article states, in terms of erosion, they advised to do more modeling! The existing site was fine except a collaroy sea wall protest was about to be lost,.... Price, but we can make the future of pools in Australia swellnet about love other. Or continual maintenance, then good luck to the beach has been studied ever... 'S really not much to protect build a seawall at Collaroy-Narrabeen in,! Coast points to the cables are protected in whatever is proposed and find out what community consultation no doubt but. We use our brains like you say budget allocated for future buy backs properties that do work.

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