Eurobodalla Shire Mayor Mat Hatcher (left) and Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland (right) talking to a Surfside resident. Photo: Dr Michael Holland’s office.
Two Surfside residents have appealed for a natural disaster to be declared at Surfside, Batemans Bay, following flooding on 1 April.
After years of asking for action on coastal erosion, they told councillors at a public access meeting this week (8 April) there was no time left and only a natural disaster declaration would see something happen.
Rosemary Deadman, a Surfside resident of 43 years, told councillors “our backs are to the wall”.
“Until a natural disaster is declared, without council’s ongoing support, nothing will happen,” she said.
“Last week waves washed up against the back doors of some homes, including mine. There is no further protection by the dune to several properties, many of which have lost additional metres of the dune in the last event. We have run out of time.”
The waves came right up to houses at Surfside. Photo: Supplied.
She was speaking in her capacity as vice president of the Eurobodalla Coast Alliance.
“I am also here because my home and many others in my street are at immediate risk from a natural disaster,” Ms Deadman said.
Eurobodalla resident Trish Hellier said Surfside, especially Myamba Parade, was devastated.
“The debris that has washed up can only be described as a further disaster waiting to happen,” she said.
Ms Hellier said the debris, which included logs and vegetation such as seaweed, put the inundated houses in danger, as well as houses across the road.
“I am here to ask councillors that the State Government declares a natural disaster,” Ms Hellier said.
Both women spoke about promises of funding and help from the Federal and NSW governments that had not resulted in action.
First was a $5 million commitment by the NSW Government in February 2019 by then Member for Bega Andrew Constance and then NSW Minister for the Environment Gabrielle Upton.
They announced up to $5 million had been reserved by the NSW Government to tackle erosion along the Batemans Bay waterfront, with Ms Upton saying an immediate grant of $250,000 would be provided to fund an urgent options study.
Next was a June 2023 announcement by Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips and Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland of $12 million funding for Batemans Bay coastal protection works under the new Disaster Ready Fund.
“I’m pleased to work constructively with Eurobodalla Shire Council to finally get this much-needed funding for disaster mitigation and relief for Surfside residents,” Ms Phillips said at the time. “I want to thank residents and Eurobodalla Shire Council for advocating for so many years.”
Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland and Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips at Surfside. Photo: Fiona Phillips MP.
Ms Deadman said the coastal erosion began in 1991 when the wall on the town side of the river was extended by 150 metres.
“This was when the massive sand bar in the river which used to act as a wall on the northern side started disappearing,” she said.
At the same time sand was accreting at Corrigans Beach.
“As the water in the northern shoal off Surfside Beach moves in an anticlockwise direction, sand is being scoured from this area by the power of the river and being deposited at the end of the rock wall at Corrigans Beach,” Ms Deadman said.
One possible mitigation action promised was “nourishment” of Surfside Beach via dredging from other locations.
“To date nothing has happened despite sand mitigation being promised over two years ago,” Ms Deadman said.
The council has a website page on coastal protection works outlining a project to protect Eurobodalla’s northern beaches from coastal erosion and inundation. The project runs from 2023 to 2027.
It says the coastal management plan proposes the construction of a coastal inundation levee – a raised embankment – to reduce the volume of seawater reaching low-lying areas at Surfside during large coastal storms, and identified beach nourishment, using sand from the Clyde River to replenish certain beaches.
“Transport for NSW [TfNSW] are responsible for this work and we are advocating to get this underway at the northern end of Surfside Beach as a matter of urgency.”
Ms Hellier and Ms Deadman pointed out that council’s rates notice said the environmental levy covered dune care and foreshore protection.
Ms Deadman asked council for an official update on the status of the erosion issues, council’s recent advocacy, and TfNSW’s sand nourishment, and called for, if necessary, an urgent public meeting between residents, council and a TfNSW representative.
“Most importantly we require a study that includes the effects from the rock wall and the new bridge which will hopefully point to how this erosion can be mitigated,” she said.
