Massive beach erosion at Collaroy and Narabeen as huge surf erodes sand

 

UPDATE

Hazardous Surf Warning for New South Wales

Issued at 2:10 am EST on Sunday 23 August 2020
for the period until midnight EST Monday 24 August 2020.

Surf and swell conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, boating, and swimming in the following areas.

Saturday 2 April,2022

Hazardous Surf Warning for:
Macquarie Coast, Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast, Illawarra Coast, Batemans Coast and Eden Coast

Safety Advice

NSW Police Force, Marine Area Command advise that:

• People should consider staying out of the water and avoid walking near surf-exposed areas.
• Rock fishers should avoid coastal rock platforms exposed to the ocean and seek a safe location that is sheltered from the surf.
• Boaters planning to cross shallow water and ocean bars should consider changing or delaying their voyage.
• Boaters already on the water should carry the appropriate safety equipment and wear a lifejacket.
• Boaters should remember to log on with their local Marine Rescue radio base, via VHF Radio or the Marine Rescue APP, and consider their safety management plan.

The next warning will be issued by 5:00 pm EST Sunday.

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Up to 20 meters of beach sand at Collaroy and Narrabeen has been swept away by huge waves generated by the massive storm that brought a deluge to Sydney peaking on Sunday.

The stormy weather brought “abnormally high tides” and strong winds and the city’s heaviest rainfall in up to two decades, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

Northern Beaches Locals witnessed waves sweeping up to the foot of houses along the beach where a similar storm in 2016 destroyed a private swimming pool and caused serious erosion. Fortunately, this time around there was more reinforcement from the placement of Rocks and sand mounds to ward off the King Tide.

Local experts said that properties along the Collaroy to Narrabeen strip had been spared serious damage on Monday,.. but the threat would resume in the coming days when more storms were forecast.

“Locals have had to invest in concrete or Rock structures to defend against the effects of waves,”.This is particularly visible at the Collaroy Beach Club,..which suffered devastating damage in the 2016 storms,..when water was inundating Pittwater Road.

 

“The seawall protecting the Collaroy Beach Club built in response to the damage in 2016,..is made from concrete, but boulders have been more commonly used and sand mounds also have been created to ensure that the tide doesn’t come up too far,…but whilst this can slow the movement of sand away from the beach, it won’t prevent it completely. Dunes are still getting eroded back several meters, “Eventually, you end up with no beach,” quipped one local expert.”

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The Bureau of Meteorology issued another warning at midday on Monday for abnormally high tides, damaging winds, damaging surf, and heavy rain for much of the NSW coast, including the metropolitan area.

The storm waves have also affected nearby areas between Manly and Shelly beach, with waves actually crashing over the walkway.

The severe flooding along the east coast prompted the Insurance Council of Australia to declare the sixth catastrophe warning in five months.

By  Monday morning, insurers have received 10,000 claims estimated to be worth $45m, the insurance council said.