Central Coast Council has continued to work overnight with NSW State Emergency Service and other essential services who are leading the emergency recovery as part of the State Emergency Rescue Management Act.

While strong winds and hazardous surf conditions have impacted the whole Coastline from Budgewoi right down to Pearl Beach, current areas of focus for emergency services are Wamberal, North Entrance, Terrigal and Avoca. Council is supporting lead agencies in recovery assistance where needed.

Beach access has been closed at North Entrance, Wamberal and other beaches which have been impacted by coastal erosion.

At Wamberal particularly, public works engineers have been onsite since Thursday night 16 July and have undertaken an initial assessment of the damage and affected buildings and homes. Their assessments have determined the next protective actions by authorities, which will be discussed directly with impacted residents today.

Affected residents have been invited to attend a community meeting and those in high-risk properties have been asked to leave for their own personal safety. They have been provided the opportunity to return for personal effects and to secure their homes during low tide today and tomorrow. Welfare agencies have door knocked all affected properties daily to assess any needs or support including accommodation.

Once impacted residents have had the opportunity to return to their homes, utilities including power, gas and water will be switched off to affected properties only within the next 48 hours to avoid further risk.

Council has engaged leading coastal engineering consultancy Royal Haskoning DHV who will provide recommendations for recovery actions to mitigate further damage in the short term.

In May this year, Council engaged Manly Hydraulics Laboratory to prepare concept plans for a terminal protection structure at Wamberal to assist residents in implementing a long-term solution. This is part funded by Council and the NSW Government through the Coast and Estuary Grants Program at a total cost of approximately $400K. It will include workshops with residents and key stakeholders, and this work is expected to be completed later in 2020.

Council is also preparing Coastal Management Programs in accordance with the NSW Coastal Management Framework.  These will be completed prior to the end of 2021. As part of that process, there will be significant consultation with our community to finalise those plans.

Conditions are dangerous and the health and safety of our community is of the utmost priority. If you do not need to be in these areas, or any other beach area where barriers are in place, PLEASE stay away.

Ocean View Drive, Wamberal has also been closed to local residents only as emergency vehicles, residents and essential services and workers need to be able to access the area.

Council thanks the community who are putting their personal safety front-of-mind and are staying away from high risk areas along the coast.

Further updates will be available at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/news

To be attributed to a Council spokesperson.