The recent storms have devastated the southern end of Newport Beach. Council has recently instigated remedial works and the NRA has posed the following question to council;
The Newport Residents Assn is concerned about the current works,
- what happens to them (under legislation emergency works are required to be removed within 90 days),
- what NBC proposes for the future,
- any other current repair plans,
- how active is NBC with the Sydney Coastal Council Group
- NBC attitude to major beach nourishment
- How to more permanently create access to the Newport pool
Council has responded with the following answers;
Newport Beach Erosion
Our Coastal team have been in contact with various owners on a number of occasions as well as conducted site visits to monitor impacts. We will undertake beach scraping to aid the recovery of the beach as soon as conditions allow, however this won’t offer the kind of significant protection the owners are seeking.
The coastal management framework is such that we don’t have many tools available to us to assist owners in the short-term, but we are looking at ways to assist where we can, including the potential for long-term coastal management actions.
Update provided to Cr Amon on behalf or NRA:
what happens to them (under legislation emergency works are required to be removed within 90 days)
The property owners are aware of the terms of the emergency order which requires them to remove the works at their cost following Council providing them with 30 days notice to remove.
what NBC proposes for the future
Council is currently progressing updates to its existing Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs) for Bilgola Beach, Mona Vale Beach and Collaroy-Narrabeen Beach (our local “hot spots”) to convert them to Coastal Management Programs (CMPs) (a requirement from the NSW Government if Council is to retain access to relevant grant funding for its coastal projects). Once these are completed, Council will proceed with a CMP for its open coast beaches, including Newport.
any other current repair plans
Once sand volumes increase, Council will progress with beach scraping to accelerate the movement of sand back onto the beach.
how active is NBC with the Sydney Coastal Council Group
Council is an active member of the Sydney Coastal Councils Group, and meets regularly with member Councils and the Secretariat in its capacity as a member of its Executive Committee, its General Manager Forum, its Technical Committee and its Sand Nourishment Working Group.
NBC attitude to major beach nourishment
Council is very supportive of beach nourishment and has a history of advocating for this management option. It is also a key action in our existing plans and strategies. As noted in the supplied information, while Council is supportive of this option it does
require significant intervention from the NSW Government which to date has not been forthcoming.
How to more permanently create access to the Newport pool
Once beach volumes recover, it is expected the access will return to normal
*****************
Notes from meeting with Angus Gordon Coastal Engineer re Beach Erosion Matters – Worth Reading
****************
Videos worth watching
Storm Effect on Collaroy/Narrabeen- Courtesy Pittwater Pathways Video
Storm Effect on Newport & other beaches versus 1974 storm effect – (courtesy Nick Carrol)