Motion seeks in depth inquiry
Pittwater ward councillor Miranda Korzy has called for a moratorium on vertical seawalls across the Northern Beaches.
Ms Korzy’s motion was scheduled to be discussed at a council meeting on 28 November, and follows huge controversy over seawalls in recent years, with two applications currently before council.
Ms Korzy is calling for a moratorium until council can examine the advantages, implications and alternatives to vertical seawalls, particularly regarding the suitability of revetments.
“I believe giant seawalls along our most vulnerable beaches are not what most residents would regard as a clever or desirable solution,” Ms Korzy said in her notice of motion. “I believe we need to stop and take stock before we do any more damage to these precious assets.”
In 2002, 3,000 people protested against a proposed seawall in Collaroy, which was not built. Subsequently, in 2019 and 2020, two seawalls were approved and later erected. Residents were asked to contribute costs, and these are located in Collaroy/South Narrabeen. In September, another seawall was approved by the local planning panel, despite 173 submissions against the proposal.
A proposal for a seawall outside the Newport Surf Life Saving Club was deferred in May to ‘enable further consideration of complex statutory and policy requirements’. It is currently open for public comment until 17 January, 2024.
Councillor Korzy said in her motion that climate change was already resulting in rising sea levels. “The issue is how to respond.”
As regards a moratorium, council’s chief executive officer, Scott Phillips, informed councillors: “A moratorium would have no lawful effect in respect of any current or future development approvals and cannot prevent council or a planning panel from making any decisions it may be required to make.”
Cr Korzy has also proposed a coastal management committee, to oversee management of the 23 beaches along the coastline, with experts and stakeholders as members.
Surfrider Foundation Northern Beaches supports a moratorium. President Brendan Donohoe was involved with a coastal management committee for many years, which was disbanded when Northern Beaches Council was formed.
“We lost the specialised coastal attention,” said Mr Donohoe. “It was a tragedy because two great coastal experts in NSW are local. And the coast is a very complex and dynamic thing to manage.”
