There should be an immediate halt to any expansion of the vertical, concrete Collaroy-Narrabeen seawall further north until the Northern Beaches Council has been fully briefed by independent coastal experts.
That’s the opinion of eminent coastal engineer, Angus Gordon OAM, former manager of Pittwater Council, and one of the architects of the NSW 2016 Coastal Management Act. Gordon, recognised for his work on coastal management world-wide by the United Nations, has said of the seven-metre high, vertical seawall: “It’s a 19th Century response to a 21st Century problem. A step back in time to the non-environmental brutalist engineering solutions of the 1900s”.
Gordon also says he would back an inquiry into Council’s decision-making process, which saw it approve the building of a towering vertical seawall on a narrow beach. Walls of this design have the effect of reflecting and concentrating wave energy, accelerating sand erosion. A suite of solutions – including rock revetment walls, sand nourishment and property buyback – should have been considered.
Professor Andy Short, University of Sydney coastal geomorphologist, is equally scathing of the construction. “What we have now with this seawall is a total disaster,” says Prof. Short. “In terms of design, community access and the beach itself. A disaster. The only people who benefit are the private landowners.”
As president of Surfrider Northern Beaches for the past two decades, I’ve been deeply involved with the fate of Collaroy-Narrabeen. It breaks my heart to see that, after all these years, and vast amounts of public money spent on half-baked measures, the Northern Beaches Council has come up with the worst-possible “solution”. In its own best-case scenario, Council states the wall will be visible at least two and a half metres (plus glass fence), above the sand.
The condemnation of this ridiculous construction has come from beach lovers locally (even internationally) and has garnered intense media scrutiny. The battle being waged over the seawall would seem to ask us to pick a side. Can we save homes or save the beach – private property vs. public amenity? I believe we can do both.
As it stands, the seawall betrays the first principles of the NSW Act. That is: “…to protect and enhance natural coastal processes and coastal environmental values including natural character, scenic value…” The Northern Beaches Council’s own Coastal Zone Management Plan’s guiding principle is to: “protect and preserve beach environments and amenity”. How have these lofty ideals been served here?
Surfrider Australia backs the call for a moratorium and an inquiry before a death sentence on even more of our precious beach. This time the public, who treasure their beaches, must be informed and included in Council’s decision-making. Something it has not done since 2016.
If the seawall under construction is the best solution for all stakeholders – both public and private interests – Council should be happy for an airing of the issue.
Right now, there’s an opportunity to have your say on Council’s seawall plans by writing a submission. Council has assured us that this DA process remains open in the short-term, and that even if you live outside the Northern Beaches Council LGA, your comments are still valid.
Have your say at www.nature.org.au/lineinthesand_submission
Or sign the “draw a line in the sand” petition at www.nature.org.au/lineinthesand_petition
Surfrider Foundation Australia has been caring for waves and beaches for more than 30 years. Learn more about their work at www.surfrider.org.au
For more detailed information on the seawall issue: www.nature.org.au/line_in_the_sand