Central Coast News

Council’s Director of Environment and Planning, Alice Howe said this decision is a science-based outcome responding to independent evidence and designed to give residents the ability to protect their property whilst maintaining public amenity and enjoyment of the beach.

“These minimum engineering requirements support a whole-of-embayment solution based on extensive technical studies and input from the community. The solution maximises both the amenity of the public beach and provides clear guidance to landowners on their responsibilities,” Dr Howe said.

"Wamberal foreshore property owners can undertake coastal protection works through an approved development application. The minimum design requirements now include five key criteria for assessment of these applications to protect community amenity and enjoyment of Wamberal Beach."

“Council has developed appropriate planning guidance so that any structures minimise risk of further coastal erosion impacts, reduce the requirement for expensive disaster response actions and maximise a coordinated approach amongst landowners to address the issue."

Council Administrator, Rik Hart said community consultation has been an integral part of the process throughout the various stages of expert investigations and studies to identify long-term solutions to coastal erosion at Wamberal.

“I acknowledge that there are many in the community that remain opposed to a terminal protection structure as an option, and it was a consistent theme raised throughout all engagement phases. However, it is important to note that the Coastal Zone Management Study 2015 , which informed the adopted Gosford Beaches Coastal Zone Management Plan 2017, considered all feasible management options to address current and future coastal risks to the environmental planning and management of the area – including mass sand nourishment, artificial reefs and planned retreat,” Mr Hart said.

“There have been multiple opportunities for consultation over the various stages of this multi-year project, with community feedback playing a tangible role in finalising the minimal engineering design requirements.”

The adopted Wamberal Beach Terminal Protection Structure Engineering Design Requirements will now be used in conjunction with relevant NSW legislation and policy to assess future development applications.

Any development application for a section of seawall at Wamberal Beach will be placed on public exhibition as per the normal development assessment process, providing the public with opportunity to comment on the detailed design drawings, environmental impact assessments, construction programs and maintenance plans.

• To view community consultation reports, FAQs and further information on the Wamberal Beach Terminal Protection and Sand Nourishment Investigation and Concept Design project, go to here
   
• To view Council’s report ‘item 2.4 - Wamberal Beach Terminal Protection Structure Engineering Design Requirements’ presented at the 11 October 2022 Ordinary Council meeting go to here