The days of wild weather on the Sydney coast after months of bad conditions have severely eroded meters of major beaches.
But it could get worse as the strong weather continues and another possible La Niña event throughout the year.
On Monday night, a lifeguard hut in North Cronulla was relocated after the erosion had consumed the sand beneath it.
Mitchell Harley, a coastal researcher at the University of NSW, said the erosion had claimed about 30 meters of beach in some areas.
North Cronulla water is crawling towards these restaurants. (ABC News: Tim Swanston)
“It’s been a couple of extreme years, since 2020,” Dr. Harley said.
“We had these La Niñas back, [we’re] maybe looking at a third, and with that, we’ve seen big impacts on Sydney’s beaches.
Dangerous escarpments have formed on some beaches, and to the north of Cronulla some access roads remain closed.
Coastal erosion in North Cronulla caused by recent wild climate. (ABC News: Tim Swanston)
Local engineer Ian MacDonald said it was the most coastal erosion he had seen in 60 years.
“Rocks that had never been exposed before are exposed,” he said.
“The whole beach – Wanda, Elouera, North Cronulla, Cronulla – the sand has been removed at least three or four meters.
“If that continues, I’m worried that where I am now will be in the water.”
Ian MacDonald says he has never seen major damage to such a large section of the beach. (ABC News: Tim Swanston)
A spokesman for the Sutherland Shire Council said major works are being done to tackle erosion.
“The City Council continues to assess the damage caused to the North Cronulla dike, and a work plan is being drawn up to carry out the urgent reinforcement of the dike which is expected to begin in a few days,” they said.
Coastal researcher Mitchell Harley (right) says some of Sydney’s beaches are now “sitting ducks”. (ABC News: Tim Swanston)
Dr Harley said strong waves were expected to continue in the coming days and, combined with possible winter storms, the infrastructure of some beaches would be threatened.
“Anything that is built too close to the shore and is within the area where the beach naturally likes to fluctuate is a concern,” he said.
“Right now, we are at the end of this fluctuation cycle … there is great concern for it to be undermined and it may fall into the ocean.
“Beaches are sitting ducks if we see more erosion.”
This Narrabeen building could be threatened in the future. (ABC News: Tim Swanston)
Posted 1 hour, 1 hour ago, Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 6:59 PM, updated 28 minutes ago, 28 minutes ago, Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 8:07 PM