Homeowners on the NSW Central Coast have slammed preparations for the current severe weather event as a “joke”, with one resident calling Premier Chris Minns a “coward”.
Evacuation orders were issued on Tuesday for parts of Wamberal and The Entrance North due to coastal erosion and major swells, forcing dozens of residents to flee their homes.
Wamberal Beach in Danger of Collapse
Extraordinary photos show many of the waterfront mansions close to being washed away, with frontyards swallowed up by sand as huge swells erode the coastline.
A row of waterfront mansions overlooking Wamberal Beach are at risk of collapse, leaving residents worried and angry about the lack of action from authorities.
Residents Condemn “Diabolical” Preparations
Chris Rogers, head of the Wamberal Protection Association, said despite weeks of warning about the storm system, the council only decided to do preventive works on Tuesday.
“The whole process, the way it has been managed is diabolical. We’ve so far been lucky in this weather event, but we might not be so lucky next time,” he said.
Calls for Permanent Solution
Both the homeowners and council have been locked in a debate for years on how to best manage the coastal erosion. Despite homeowners offering to build a seawall with their own money, Mr Rogers said little had been done in recent years.
“Let’s stop the merry-go-round. We are now stuck in this constant cycle of evacuation,” he said.
Criticism of Chris Minns
Mr Rogers also criticized Premier Chris Minns, saying he was opposed to a seawall and had not taken action since meeting with residents in April.
“If you look a guy in the eye and say you are going to do something and then you don’t do it … that’s called being a coward,” he said.
Similar Scenes at The Entrance North
There were similar scenes at The Entrance North on Wednesday as homes along Hutton Road were battered with large swells.
One home on the street lost a large tree in their backyard as the coastline eroded overnight.
Despite layers of rocks being placed along the coastline over the years, residents on the street said they are still losing land each time there is a big storm.
Weather Warning
NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said on Wednesday morning that weather will likely become more severe heading into Thursday.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned rainfall of up to 200mm is expected throughout the weather system with damaging winds, huge surf and erosion set to impact millions of residents in NSW.