6 days ago
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.
