Central Coast Council is continuing to work with the NSW State Emergency Service, NSW Police and local residents in response to coastal erosion affecting a number of properties at Wamberal. 

Ocean View Drive at Wamberal is currently closed to general traffic to allow emergency vehicles, residents and essential services access to the area. Wamberal Beach has also been closed to the public to manage safety and minimise risk to the community. The road is expected to reopen after 4pm this afternoon.

Council thanks the community for their patience and understanding while emergency works are carried out and ask them to obey all signage and instructions and to stay away from the area if possible.

Public Works engineers are on site and continuing their important assessments which are informing the operation.

Leading coastal engineering consultancy Royal Haskoning DHV will provide recommendations for recovery actions to mitigate further beach erosion in the short term.

Assisting local residents

A community meeting was held with affected residents on Sunday and those in high-risk properties were advised to leave for their own personal safety. Residents were able to return to gather personal effects and to secure their homes during low tide yesterday and today. Welfare agencies are continuing to contact the affected properties daily to assess any needs and provide ongoing support including accommodation. 18 properties, amounting to 43 residences are impacted with ten residents being provided with temporary accommodation.

Utilities including power, gas and water have been switched off to affected properties. Properties in the danger area have been fenced off for public safety. NSW Police and security patrols are monitoring the area.

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