High Cost Of Building Collaroy Seawall Worries Some Homeowners

Construction of the Collaroy seawall continues despite funding issues. With the protection of private properties forecasted to cost around $17.3 million, some homeowners could not help but fret because they need to shoulder 80 percent of the total expenses. 

Based on estimates, it’s going to cost residents over $282,000 each. The 1.3-km seawall would cover a total of 49 private properties, 11 public land areas, a car park and a surf club. With the public land areas included, the total cost could go as high as $24.8 million.

The rest of the expenses for the private properties will be shouldered by the NSW government and Northern Beaches Council, who will allocate 10 per cent of the total cost each for the private works. To avail of the financial assistance, residents have to submit a development application for the Council to review.

“Council has approved six Development Applications for coastal protection works submitted by residents. These applications represent 23 of the 49 land parcels requiring coastal protection, there is currently one DA to be finalised and Council is waiting on information from this resident,” the Northern Beaches Council wrote. 

Because of the high cost of building the seawall, there are a few homeowners who have already raised funding for their works.

Seawall proposal

The construction of a seawall in Collaroy was first proposed in 2002. However, Daylan Cameron, Senior Environment Officer – Natural Hazards of Warringah Council’s Natural Environment Unit stated that it wasn’t popular with the community at the time.

Following a severe storm in June 2016, the construction of a seawall was once again suggested and now, it’s finally closer to reality. Collaroy-Narrabeen Beach had a long history of storm damage and coastal erosion, making it the 3rd area most at risk from coastal processes across Australia.

‘Flight deck’ foundation exposed following a 1967 storm (Photo credit: engineersaustralia.org.au)

The Coastline Management Plan 1997 identified four main strategies for dealing with coastal erosion along the beach:

  1. Protective works
  2. Environmental planning measures
  3. Development control and conditions
  4. Dune Management

Nielsen Lord Associates stated in 1998 that the problem stemmed from the fact that the initial subdivision was too close to the beach with properties extending into the active beach zone.

In relation to this, experts warned the damages in the beachfront houses in Collaroy would have a wide effect on the property market. Despite the fact that the house prices in Collaroy increase 15.7 per cent every year, these damages could affect future buyers’ willingness to invest in the area.