Tackling Erosion at Ocean and Umina Beaches

Central Coast Council has successfully secured NSW Government funding to help tackle the issue of public safety and beach erosion at Ocean and Umina Beaches.

As part of the Gosford Beaches Coastal Zone Management Plan, the funding – to be matched by the council – will ensure nearly $500,000 is put towards addressing the risks of erosion.

Central Coast Council Director, Assets, Infrastructure and Business, Mike Dowling, said that the rate of erosion was drastically exacerbated in April 2015 during a significant coastal storm.

“Council has a short-term strategy in place to protect The Esplanade, as a result of the storm in April 2015,” he said.

“This includes the ongoing beach monitoring program, a temporary wall covering over 100m of beach and an ongoing beach scraping program that brings available sand further up the beach.

“This new funding will enable us to identify a long-term protective option for The Esplanade and the vital infrastructure located in it – including water and drainage systems and electricity and telecommunications services.

“It will also investigate the feasibility of beach nourishment by understanding the complex sediment transport system within Broken Bay.”

The funding received will allow the first two phases of a larger project to go ahead and this includes an analysis of:

• the coastal processes and sediment dynamics for Broken Bay;
• options to improve beach access and amenities;
• the risks associated with vertical erosion scarps and the development of a long term solution for protecting The Esplanade.

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