The proposed seawall for Wamberal Beach has been raised in the Australian Parliament by Federal Member for Robertson, Dr Gordon Reid MP.
Federal Member for Robertson, Dr Gordon Reid MP, says the community does not want this proposed seawall to go ahead.
“The majority of residents I have spoken with in Wamberal, and across the Central Coast, do not want to see a vertical 1.3-kilometre concrete seawall constructed along Wamberal Beach”, Dr Reid said.
“The community is concerned about a range of flow-on effects that will occur should this proposed seawall go ahead”.
“These concerns are for beach scouring, rediverting of storm surges into the adjacent Terrigal/Wamberal Lagoon, and the increased likelihood of flooding”, Dr Reid said.
“If you look at the example of the Collaroy seawall on the Northern Beaches, you will see that these outcomes are taking place there”.
“During sea storms the beach is scoured away. This effect leaves very little beach sand behind and exposes rocks and other debris hidden beneath the beach”, Dr Reid said.
“This effect destroys the amenity of the beach and reduces access for the community”.
“There is also the increased likelihood of storm surges being rediverted into the Terrigal/Wamberal Lagoon, flooding properties and devasting the local community”, Dr Reid said.
“All this to protect a handful of beachside properties at the detriment of the wider community”.
“I will continue to represent my community on this issue and will be encouraging people in the region to make submissions to the Hunter and Central Coast Regional Planning Panel once a Development Application is submitted by the proponents”, Dr Reid said.
“I would like to thank the Save Our Sands (SOS) organisation for all its work campaigning against this seawall proposal over several years”.
A stop-the-seawall event has been planned for Sunday November 5 from 3pm at Wamberal Beach SLSC to update the community on the next steps from here.
All are welcome to attend.
To read Dr Reid’s speech delivered in Parliament on Thursday October 19, 2023, visit: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard/Hansard_Display?bid=chamber/hansardr/27173/&sid=0250
To watch the footage of the speech, visit: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zzui61sh31kpnvw78ms8t/Wamberal-Seawall-Speech.mp4?rlkey=r4wirtsm5kljykddvucdtpkvb&dl=0
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