Calls for short-term action to protect beachfront

Short-term action to protect the beachfront between Umina and Ettalong should take place while Central Coast Council prepares for is major "coastal protection works" project, according to two local community groups.

The Umina Community Group would like to see the council taking more short-term measures before the September 9 local government election, according to spokesman Mr Tony Winch.

"We would like to see a sand replenishment process to basically push the sand back into place to at least remove some of the dangers."

Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club has published pictures on its Facebook page of the state of the erosion near its clubhouse.

"We would like to see council doze the whole area, re-contour the beach and replant the area with native vegetation ... but that would cost money," said president Mr Scott Hannell.

He said there were significant parts of the beach that were not passable at high tide and the extent of the erosion made it difficult for the club to get its safety equipment on and off the sand

"At the moment the all-terrain vehicle that council supplied the club and that tows our gear trailer, the rubber ducky and other emergency equipment wouldn't be able to be pulled up off the beach," he said.

Mr Hannell questioned why so much attention had been given to the risk to private property at Wamberal when community assets and public amenity were in such dire straits on the Peninsula's main beachfront.

Mr Hannell said the photos had been viewed by over 22,000 people and the majority of comments were in support of something being done to improve the amenity of the beach.

Several public access paths have been impassable for over two years, he said.

More recently, erosion has seen the depletion of sand around the main stormwater drain near the Ocean Beach Surf Club's car park.

The dunes, between the surf club and the sandbag wall, constructed after the April 2015 storm, have been eroded to the point where they are now an un-vegetated cliff-face.

Mr Hannell said the club had been having discussions "for years and years" with council about the state of the beach.

"I can't see the beach recovering for at least the next few years and luckily we haven't had any decent east coast lows this year."

"They talk about dredging the channel but they are pumping the sand into the sea and not using it to replenish the beach," he said.

Mr Tony Winch, from the Umina Community Group, said the group had been working with the Central Coast Council officers responsible for the amenity of the beach "on the day-to-day tactical tasks" required to keep the situation from deteriorating further.

He said he would describe the current public amenity as "very interrupted".

"From the community group's point of view, we have been waiting for the Coastal Zone Management Plan to be approved by the NSW Government," Mr Winch said.

"Now that is signed off, the next thing is to look at where the funding will be coming from," he said.

"Hopefully it would be the council applying for and organising that funding so the work in the plan can be implemented.

"That is a hard directional priority to put in place without elected councillors," he said.

"On a positive note the regeneration of the dunes by the three active dune care groups continues.

"We are pleased to see the sandbags have done their job at the point by protecting the road and now some of the bags have been covered in sand," he said.

Mr Winch referred to the sandbag wall constructed to protect The Esplanade after erosion impacted the roadway following the April 2015 storm.

The Central Coast Council operational plan for 2017-18 will see the first steps taken towards a three-year project to construct coastal protection works along Umina and Ocean Beach, subject to the availability of funding.

SOURCES:

Facebook post, 20 Jun 2017

Interview, 5 Jul 2017

Scott Hannell, Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club

Interview, 5 Jul 2017

Tony Winch, Umina Community Group

Reporter: Jackie Pearson