Latest news with #CentralCoastCouncil
The Advertiser
5 days ago
- The Advertiser
Suburb 'torn apart': drone footage shows homes metres from ocean collapse
New drone footage shows more than a dozen homes just metres from toppling into the ocean, as locals say the beachside suburb's community "has been torn apart" by inaction from government and the council. The footage obtained by the Newcastle Herald shows the coastal erosion metres away from the back doors of several houses, while fences, gardens, alfresco areas and staircases have all collapsed into the ocean. Tensions have reached boiling point, with police investigating an alleged altercation involving Central Coast councillor Corinne Lamont and her husband Mark, and land owner Warren Hughes on Tuesday afternoon. Both parties have different versions of events regarding the confrontation understood to have begun when the Lamonts filmed unauthorised works involving a crane placing large bags of rocks at Mr Hughes' beachfront home. The Lamonts were both arrested and charged with assault actual bodily harm in company and affray, but maintain their innocence. A Central Coast Council spokesperson says the council has issued Mr Hughes a stop-work order. In July, the NSW government declared Wamberal a Reconstruction Area, which allows the Central Coast Council to undertake temporary emergency coastal erosion protection works, bypassing the lengthy approval process. However, Premier Chris Minns has already rejected the idea of a seawall, the option favoured by homeowners. Wamberal Protection Association chair Chris Rogers said residents were tired of the buck passing and finger pointing, and called for the council and state government to "give us something, give us anything". "The community has been torn apart," Mr Rogers said. "People's mental health is being seriously affected because their homes and their families have been at risk for months and months." A council spokesperson said following consultations with NSW Public Works, it was clear sand nourishment was "now the only appropriate response that could be supported in the interim", while approval for a "terminal protective structure" - such as a seawall - was sought. "Council is currently preparing a Sand Nourishment-Dune Vegetation project proposal for owners to consider," the spokesperson said. Homes on The Entrance North have also been battered by beachside erosion, however residents there have been granted a ministerial authorisation to complete temporary coastal protection works. "At this time council is continuing to assist owners in their due diligence process, and understand consideration is being given to the needs of the collective, as well as individual property owner interests," the spokesperson said. A draft Coastal Management Plan (CMP) released by Central Coast Council confirmed 72 buildings and vital infrastructure are in immediate danger. Beyond that, a significantly wider area at risk of future erosion and inundation than previously estimated. New drone footage shows more than a dozen homes just metres from toppling into the ocean, as locals say the beachside suburb's community "has been torn apart" by inaction from government and the council. The footage obtained by the Newcastle Herald shows the coastal erosion metres away from the back doors of several houses, while fences, gardens, alfresco areas and staircases have all collapsed into the ocean. Tensions have reached boiling point, with police investigating an alleged altercation involving Central Coast councillor Corinne Lamont and her husband Mark, and land owner Warren Hughes on Tuesday afternoon. Both parties have different versions of events regarding the confrontation understood to have begun when the Lamonts filmed unauthorised works involving a crane placing large bags of rocks at Mr Hughes' beachfront home. The Lamonts were both arrested and charged with assault actual bodily harm in company and affray, but maintain their innocence. A Central Coast Council spokesperson says the council has issued Mr Hughes a stop-work order. In July, the NSW government declared Wamberal a Reconstruction Area, which allows the Central Coast Council to undertake temporary emergency coastal erosion protection works, bypassing the lengthy approval process. However, Premier Chris Minns has already rejected the idea of a seawall, the option favoured by homeowners. Wamberal Protection Association chair Chris Rogers said residents were tired of the buck passing and finger pointing, and called for the council and state government to "give us something, give us anything". "The community has been torn apart," Mr Rogers said. "People's mental health is being seriously affected because their homes and their families have been at risk for months and months." A council spokesperson said following consultations with NSW Public Works, it was clear sand nourishment was "now the only appropriate response that could be supported in the interim", while approval for a "terminal protective structure" - such as a seawall - was sought. "Council is currently preparing a Sand Nourishment-Dune Vegetation project proposal for owners to consider," the spokesperson said. Homes on The Entrance North have also been battered by beachside erosion, however residents there have been granted a ministerial authorisation to complete temporary coastal protection works. "At this time council is continuing to assist owners in their due diligence process, and understand consideration is being given to the needs of the collective, as well as individual property owner interests," the spokesperson said. A draft Coastal Management Plan (CMP) released by Central Coast Council confirmed 72 buildings and vital infrastructure are in immediate danger. Beyond that, a significantly wider area at risk of future erosion and inundation than previously estimated. New drone footage shows more than a dozen homes just metres from toppling into the ocean, as locals say the beachside suburb's community "has been torn apart" by inaction from government and the council. The footage obtained by the Newcastle Herald shows the coastal erosion metres away from the back doors of several houses, while fences, gardens, alfresco areas and staircases have all collapsed into the ocean. Tensions have reached boiling point, with police investigating an alleged altercation involving Central Coast councillor Corinne Lamont and her husband Mark, and land owner Warren Hughes on Tuesday afternoon. Both parties have different versions of events regarding the confrontation understood to have begun when the Lamonts filmed unauthorised works involving a crane placing large bags of rocks at Mr Hughes' beachfront home. The Lamonts were both arrested and charged with assault actual bodily harm in company and affray, but maintain their innocence. A Central Coast Council spokesperson says the council has issued Mr Hughes a stop-work order. In July, the NSW government declared Wamberal a Reconstruction Area, which allows the Central Coast Council to undertake temporary emergency coastal erosion protection works, bypassing the lengthy approval process. However, Premier Chris Minns has already rejected the idea of a seawall, the option favoured by homeowners. Wamberal Protection Association chair Chris Rogers said residents were tired of the buck passing and finger pointing, and called for the council and state government to "give us something, give us anything". "The community has been torn apart," Mr Rogers said. "People's mental health is being seriously affected because their homes and their families have been at risk for months and months." A council spokesperson said following consultations with NSW Public Works, it was clear sand nourishment was "now the only appropriate response that could be supported in the interim", while approval for a "terminal protective structure" - such as a seawall - was sought. "Council is currently preparing a Sand Nourishment-Dune Vegetation project proposal for owners to consider," the spokesperson said. Homes on The Entrance North have also been battered by beachside erosion, however residents there have been granted a ministerial authorisation to complete temporary coastal protection works. "At this time council is continuing to assist owners in their due diligence process, and understand consideration is being given to the needs of the collective, as well as individual property owner interests," the spokesperson said. A draft Coastal Management Plan (CMP) released by Central Coast Council confirmed 72 buildings and vital infrastructure are in immediate danger. Beyond that, a significantly wider area at risk of future erosion and inundation than previously estimated. New drone footage shows more than a dozen homes just metres from toppling into the ocean, as locals say the beachside suburb's community "has been torn apart" by inaction from government and the council. The footage obtained by the Newcastle Herald shows the coastal erosion metres away from the back doors of several houses, while fences, gardens, alfresco areas and staircases have all collapsed into the ocean. Tensions have reached boiling point, with police investigating an alleged altercation involving Central Coast councillor Corinne Lamont and her husband Mark, and land owner Warren Hughes on Tuesday afternoon. Both parties have different versions of events regarding the confrontation understood to have begun when the Lamonts filmed unauthorised works involving a crane placing large bags of rocks at Mr Hughes' beachfront home. The Lamonts were both arrested and charged with assault actual bodily harm in company and affray, but maintain their innocence. A Central Coast Council spokesperson says the council has issued Mr Hughes a stop-work order. In July, the NSW government declared Wamberal a Reconstruction Area, which allows the Central Coast Council to undertake temporary emergency coastal erosion protection works, bypassing the lengthy approval process. However, Premier Chris Minns has already rejected the idea of a seawall, the option favoured by homeowners. Wamberal Protection Association chair Chris Rogers said residents were tired of the buck passing and finger pointing, and called for the council and state government to "give us something, give us anything". "The community has been torn apart," Mr Rogers said. "People's mental health is being seriously affected because their homes and their families have been at risk for months and months." A council spokesperson said following consultations with NSW Public Works, it was clear sand nourishment was "now the only appropriate response that could be supported in the interim", while approval for a "terminal protective structure" - such as a seawall - was sought. "Council is currently preparing a Sand Nourishment-Dune Vegetation project proposal for owners to consider," the spokesperson said. Homes on The Entrance North have also been battered by beachside erosion, however residents there have been granted a ministerial authorisation to complete temporary coastal protection works. "At this time council is continuing to assist owners in their due diligence process, and understand consideration is being given to the needs of the collective, as well as individual property owner interests," the spokesperson said. A draft Coastal Management Plan (CMP) released by Central Coast Council confirmed 72 buildings and vital infrastructure are in immediate danger. Beyond that, a significantly wider area at risk of future erosion and inundation than previously estimated.
ABC News
09-08-2025
- ABC News
Pelican feeding show's shift to saving hurt birds sees visitors double
One of the Central Coast's most well-known tourism attractions is back from the brink of cancellation after addressing concerns about its eco-credentials. Pelican Time at The Entrance started by accident, when marine birds flocked to a local fish shop as it threw away scraps at the end of each day. Over time, the feeding of the pelicans became more formalised, with the construction of a dedicated "pelican platform" in the 1990s. But two years ago, a review by the Central Coast Council, which owned the attraction, found pelican feeding was not in the best interests of the marine birds. The finding was out of step with the Central Coast's certification as a world-class destination for sustainable, nature-based tourism. It required a rethink to ensure the animals were not overfed or exploited for the purposes of marketing a destination. Central Coast Council manager of visitor economy Bianca Gilmore said wildlife experts were consulted to work out how to keep the event running. They agreed on less feeding and a program with more education. Since the review, the attraction has been run by Marine Wildlife Rescue Central Coast. Cathy Gilmore, a volunteer with Marine Wildlife Rescue Central Coast for more than 30 years, helped develop Pelican Time's new program. "Previously it was just about feeding them and putting on a show," she said. "This Pelican Time, with people who rescue pelicans … we're able to really educate people about the issues that marine wildlife face here. "The Central Coast has a lot of waterways and it is fished a lot and these birds end up with a lot of fishing hook and line injuries from active fishing," she said. Cathy Gilmore said the birds tended to know when Pelican Time was happening and would often use the opportunity for an easy meal. "If it requires further attention, we'll get it off to the vet to make sure that it gets fixed up and released back into the wild." Pelican Time now attracts 38,000 people annually, a figure that has doubled in the space of 12 months. Hemesha Hettiarachchige visited The Entrance specifically to see the pelicans during a daytrip from south-west Sydney. "It's a really nice opportunity to see how these poor animals [benefit] … some of them are hurt and these volunteers help them out." Bianca Gilmore said with people like Ms Hettiarachchige putting Pelican Time on their bucket list, it had become an important driver of tourism to the region. "It's not just residents that this program captures, it's also visitors … visitors from Sydney but also internationally as well," she said. "The pelicans are iconic to the Central Coast and capture the imagination of so many international groups. "When they hear Central Coast, they think Pelican Time."
Sydney Morning Herald
07-08-2025
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
Jason uses a drone to look for sharks at Bondi. Here's what he sees
Backing up Iggleden's observation that sharks are not more plentiful, just more likely to be seen, is the data in the Australian Shark-Incident Database, maintained by Taronga Zoo. The number of shark encounters where a person is injured (ranging from minor lacerations to a small number of deaths) was an average of 6.2 a year in NSW over the past five years, compared with 6.6 a decade earlier. The state's population increased by 3 million people in that time. The NSW government recently asked Waverley Council, Northern Beaches Council and Central Coast Council to nominate a beach to trial removing shark nets this summer. Tamarama does not have a net, so for Waverley Council, this would mean either Bondi or Bronte, while the other two councils have many beaches to choose from. The councils must respond by August 22. A Central Coast Council spokesperson said it would work with the state government and Surf Life Saving NSW to decide which beach should trial the shark net removal. Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh has written to NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty to request more information about the other shark mitigation measures such as SMART drum lines and more drones the state plans to provide. The councils have long lobbied for the removal of shark nets because of growing evidence that they are ineffective and indiscriminately kill marine life, but it is ultimately a decision for the state government. Earlier this year the NSW government started consultation with councils about winding back shark nets, and also removed them for winter a month earlier than usual because of evidence about turtle bycatch. Iggleden said most people did not realise that the mesh shark nets installed at 51 NSW beaches each summer are just 150 metres long and sharks swim over, under and around them. He had been filming the sharks for some time, giving them names such as Norman and Nelly when he first noticed the nets. 'I remember clearly the day of the dead dolphin – I love dolphins, they're so beautiful, and I saw a dead dolphin [caught in the net at Bondi], and it really tore at my heart,' Iggleden said. 'I learned more about them [the nets] and started really becoming passionate about how we need to get rid of these barbaric systems.' Associate Professor of Public Policy Dr Christopher Pepin-Neff, from the University of Sydney, said shark nets caught a lot of fish, attracting sharks looking for an easy meal. 'It may be that beaches with shark nets are the least safe, not the most safe,' Pepin-Neff said. Loading From 2014-15 to 2023-24 there were 3825 animals caught in mesh nets across Greater Sydney, NSW Department of Primary Industries figures show. Of those, only 315 were target sharks and 3510 were non-target animals such as grey nurse sharks, dolphins, rays and turtles. Less than half survived. From 2022-23 to 2023-24 there were 915 target sharks caught by SMART drum lines and 756 non-target animals, but the vast majority were released alive.
Sydney Morning Herald
07-08-2025
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘It tore at my heart': How Jason found a new career as a shark spotter
Backing up Iggledon's observation that sharks are not more plentiful, just more likely to be seen, is the data in the Australian Shark-Incident Database, maintained by Taronga Zoo. The number of shark encounters where a person is injured (ranging from minor lacerations to a small number of deaths) was an average of 6.2 a year in NSW over the past five years, compared with 6.6 a decade earlier. The state's population increased by 3 million people in that time. The NSW government recently asked Waverley Council, Northern Beaches Council and Central Coast Council to nominate a beach to trial removing shark nets this summer. Tamarama does not have a net, so for Waverley Council, this would mean either Bondi or Bronte, while the other two councils have many beaches to choose from. The councils must respond by August 22. A Central Coast Council spokesperson said it would work with the state government and Surf Life Saving NSW to decide which beach should trial the shark net removal. Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh has written to NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty to request more information about the other shark mitigation measures such as SMART drum lines and more drones the state plans to provide. The councils have long lobbied for the removal of shark nets because of growing evidence that they are ineffective and indiscriminately kill marine life, but it is ultimately a decision for the state government. Earlier this year the NSW government started consultation with councils about winding back shark nets, and also removed them for winter a month earlier than usual because of evidence about turtle bycatch. Iggledon said most people did not realise that the mesh shark nets installed at 51 NSW beaches each summer are just 150 metres long and sharks swim over, under and around them. He had been filming the sharks for some time, giving them names such as Norman and Nelly when he first noticed the nets. 'I remember clearly the day of the dead dolphin [caught in the net at Bondi],' Iggledon said. 'I love dolphins, they're so beautiful, and I saw a dead dolphin, and it really tore at my heart. I learned more about them [the nets] and started really becoming passionate about how we need to get rid of these barbaric systems.' Loading Associate Professor of Public Policy Dr Christopher Pepin-Neff, from the University of Sydney, said shark nets caught a lot of fish, attracting sharks looking for an easy meal. 'It may be that beaches with shark nets are the least safe, not the most safe,' Pepin-Neff said. From 2014-15 to 2023-24 there were 3825 animals caught in mesh nets across Greater Sydney, NSW Department of Primary Industries figures show. Of those, only 315 were target sharks and 3510 were non-target animals. Less than half survived. Meanwhile, from 2022-23 to 2023-24 there were 915 target sharks caught by SMART drum lines and 756 non-target animals, but the vast majority survived and were released alive.
The Age
07-08-2025
- General
- The Age
‘It tore at my heart': How Jason found a new career as a shark spotter
Backing up Iggledon's observation that sharks are not more plentiful, just more likely to be seen, is the data in the Australian Shark-Incident Database, maintained by Taronga Zoo. The number of shark encounters where a person is injured (ranging from minor lacerations to a small number of deaths) was an average of 6.2 a year in NSW over the past five years, compared with 6.6 a decade earlier. The state's population increased by 3 million people in that time. The NSW government recently asked Waverley Council, Northern Beaches Council and Central Coast Council to nominate a beach to trial removing shark nets this summer. Tamarama does not have a net, so for Waverley Council, this would mean either Bondi or Bronte, while the other two councils have many beaches to choose from. The councils must respond by August 22. A Central Coast Council spokesperson said it would work with the state government and Surf Life Saving NSW to decide which beach should trial the shark net removal. Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh has written to NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty to request more information about the other shark mitigation measures such as SMART drum lines and more drones the state plans to provide. The councils have long lobbied for the removal of shark nets because of growing evidence that they are ineffective and indiscriminately kill marine life, but it is ultimately a decision for the state government. Earlier this year the NSW government started consultation with councils about winding back shark nets, and also removed them for winter a month earlier than usual because of evidence about turtle bycatch. Iggledon said most people did not realise that the mesh shark nets installed at 51 NSW beaches each summer are just 150 metres long and sharks swim over, under and around them. He had been filming the sharks for some time, giving them names such as Norman and Nelly when he first noticed the nets. 'I remember clearly the day of the dead dolphin [caught in the net at Bondi],' Iggledon said. 'I love dolphins, they're so beautiful, and I saw a dead dolphin, and it really tore at my heart. I learned more about them [the nets] and started really becoming passionate about how we need to get rid of these barbaric systems.' Loading Associate Professor of Public Policy Dr Christopher Pepin-Neff, from the University of Sydney, said shark nets caught a lot of fish, attracting sharks looking for an easy meal. 'It may be that beaches with shark nets are the least safe, not the most safe,' Pepin-Neff said. From 2014-15 to 2023-24 there were 3825 animals caught in mesh nets across Greater Sydney, NSW Department of Primary Industries figures show. Of those, only 315 were target sharks and 3510 were non-target animals. Less than half survived. Meanwhile, from 2022-23 to 2023-24 there were 915 target sharks caught by SMART drum lines and 756 non-target animals, but the vast majority survived and were released alive.
