Tag: Collaroy seawall

High Cost Of Building Collaroy Seawall Worries Some Homeowners

Photo credit: Soil Conservation Service/YouTube

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.

Construction Of Sea Wall To Protect Collaroy Homes Begins

Photo credit: northernbeachesadvocate.com.au

To protect their homes from erosion caused by storms, homeowners have embarked on the construction of a 1.3-km seawall in Collaroy.

As of February 2021, the first of these private works undertaken to protect 10 vulnerable properties is finally underway. 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.

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.

In November 2020, preliminary work on the first section of the seawall already started. Council has built a 250m section of the wall, in front of the public park and ride car park.

Despite having to shoulder hundreds of thousands of dollars to build the seawall, homeowners are delighted to see that the construction is already underway. 

According to Council, there are 11 parcels of public land including the Collaroy carpark, South Narrabeen Surf Club, reserves and road ends interspersed between 49 private parcels of land that require protection.

Council will also shoulder the expense of building sections of the sea wall to protect other public property including South Narrabeen Surf Club, reserves and areas where streets end at the beach.

Damaged Properties

In 2016, a number of waterfront properties were damaged by intense storms. Experts believe the damages were mainly caused by the very large waves and tide brought by the storm one weekend in June 2016.

Damaged foreshore homes in Sydney’s Collaroy Beach (Photo credit: University of New South Wales- Sydney)

Council understands that it has not been an easy process for residents to get to this point. Locals have been assured of support in navigating the complex legal, planning and financial issues that have arisen. The remaining homeowners are hoping they will be ready to start building by September 2021.

“We are continuing to work with other residents along the strip so they too can begin the works to protect their properties and 29 of the 49 private properties have already had DAs approved and there are currently no DAs with Council awaiting determination,” the Northern Beaches Council stated.