Find out more. The loss of the Egger family home is often revisited when it comes to millionaires’ rows by the sea — not because the Eggers paid a lot for it (Dr Egger says it was bought in the 1950s by his schoolteacher father when it wasn’t common to live by the beach), but because it was one of the first cases of the sea swallowing a property built on sand dunes. Coastal erosion is caused by a number of factors, including natural processes such as the wind, rain and waves, as well as human activities, such as the damming of rivers. It’s also classified as the most at-risk beach from erosion in New South Wales and the third most at-risk in the nation. Erosion typically occurs when the wave energy is high, which is influenced by strong winds and low-pressure weather. “But the climate system is no longer stable. Many seawalls already exist along Collaroy-Narrabeen significantly reducing further coastal erosion. Collaroy-Narrabeen Beach has also reduced risk to development. Engineers assessed homes along Pittwater Road before allowing residents to briefly access their homes to collect small valuables. Swallowed by the sea: The damaged Beach Club at Collaroy. These different process can be divided up into: exogenic processes, natural disasters and human occupancy. That erosion was described as the worst the Coast had seen in 40 years but locals say even more sand has since disappeared. A 155m seawall was built along the perimeter of Sunset Park to manage ongoing erosion and limit damage from storm waves overtopping. Loss of sand to deep water. But it’s the many beachfront homes around Australia already losing a decades-long battle to erosion that are on borrowed time before their Australian dream becomes a Collaroy nightmare. The main cause of the existing coastal hazards is that development has taken place well within the active coastal zone (within the primary foredune area). What causes coastal erosion? “The fact is you’ll never be able to legislate against, or build against or blame anyone for the power of the sea. Nationwide News Pty Limited Copyright © 2021. He believes the only solution is land buy backs or “planned retreats” but observes these are policies the land owners don’t seem keen on. “Almost four decades on we haven’t got much further than rich man’s rips — it’s a political problem when councils put money into building a wall to protect private property when people inland are screaming for money for facilities that can’t be paid for. “Once you’ve got rock down in front of a property you either have to put it all along the beach or not at all — it’s all or nothing,” he said. Covered by sand, they’re usually only visible after major erosion events. Coastal erosion can be either a: rapid-onset hazard (occurs very quickly, a period of days to weeks) slow-onset hazard (occurring over many years, or decades to centuries). Sea levels are rising and so are the risks,” the 2014 report warns. It predicts more than $226 billion in commercial, industrial, road and rail, and residential assets around Australian coasts are potentially at risk by 2100. Manly Andrew 'Boy' Charlton Aquatic Centre. The case dragged on for 10 years, ending in 1987. In nearby Queenscliff, locals woke this morning to find its beach completely eroded by the rising sea. Courtesy Dee Why LibrarySource:Supplied. You can’t sue, or legislate against Mother Nature.”. We manage the coastal dunes following the NSW Coastal Dune Management Manual. In 2013, the council identified Darwin’s most vulnerable coastal erosion sites with some of the city’s most popular sunset strips — East Point and Mindil Beach — were also identified as vulnerable to erosion. Garry Egger lost the family beachfront home to the ocean 38 years ago, and says nothing has changed since then in terms of protection from erosion. 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