Management of Coastal Erosion Emergencies in …...Outline of Talk • discuss the coastal erosion issue • describe what landowners can do to protect property • discuss Council

Management of Coastal Erosion Emergencies in Local

Government Areas

Peter Horton, WorleyParsons

Outline of Talk

• discuss the coastal erosion issue• describe what landowners can do to

protect property• discuss Council (and other authority) roles

in coastal emergencies• evaluate the various emergency protection

measures that could be implemented• discuss the implications• (acknowledge Warringah Council)

Scope of Talk

• beaches only (not rocky cliffs/bluffs)• consider meteorological events (“coastal

storms”) that may cause large waves and elevated water levels leading to beach erosion and wave overtopping (not tsunamis)

• consider oceanic inundation (not estuarine inundation)

Collaroy Beach, 1920

Lennox Head, 1967

Freshwater SLSC, 1974

Bilgola, 1974

Bilgola, 1974

Wamberal, June 1978

Wamberal, 2005

Collaroy-Narrabeen Beach, July 2007

Kingscliff, August 2011

Some observations

• areas of NSW are at risk at present due to coastal erosion (both public and private assets)

• emergency works undertaken in the past have provided property protection at many locations until now

• at some of these locations this has not interfered with beach amenity, and at some locations it has

In the Future…

• Long term recession due to sea level rise would cause:– more areas to become at risk– more likely conflicts between existing

protective works and beach amenity (eg due to narrowing beach width)

– more likely failure of existing protective works

What can landowners do?

• temporary sand/sandbags emergency coastal protection works “Part 4c sand/sandbags ECPW” (at certain sites, under certain conditions, only once)

• any emergency coastal protection works, with consent, after submitting DA

• long term protection works, with consent, after submitting DA

Sand-filled geotextile containers

Maroochydore, Queensland


Belongil Beach


Stockton Beach


Aspendale Beach, Victoria

Part 4c sand/sandbags ECPW• only at specific locations listed in “Minister’s Requirements under the

Coastal Protection Act 1979”, namely:

– Belongil Beach– Brooms Head– Wooli– Old Bar– The Entrance North– Hargraves Beach, Noraville– Cabbage Tree Harbour Beach, Norah Head– Wamberal Beach– Pearl Beach– Bilgola Beach– Basin Beach, Mona Vale– Collaroy-Narrabeen Beach– Mollymook Beach

Part 4c sand/sandbags ECPW

• only in areas without existing protective works

Specific locations


Specific locations



• only if erosion within 20m of building• must import sand


• cannot excavate• must have safety fencing• cannot be placed during storm conditions unless

opinion is obtained from engineer• sandbags only 1.5m high, maximum volume of

0.75m3 (sand can be placed to top of escarpment)

• must be removed within 12 months (unless DA is lodged for longer term or alternate temporary coastal protection works) unless sand is used!

Landowners need to act now

• obtain certificate from OEH or Council and pay $110 fee prior to placing the works (no DA is required)

• pre-purchase and stockpile relevant resources (such as geotextiles, sandbags and sand) on their property

• gather knowledge of relevant plant and equipment suppliers

• identify appropriate personnel to place the works • notify Council when works are to be undertaken

and arrange for beach access


• are meant to reduce the erosion threats to houses while landowners identify more permanent solutions and consider seeking approval for permanent works

Should landowners bother withPart 4c sand/sandbags ECPW?

• stipulated sandbag design cannot be expected to provide adequate protection on open coast

Coghlan et al (2009)

Should landowners bother withPart 4c sand/sandbags ECPW?

• relatively costly• sandbags very difficult to practically

implement during an emergency• (note Council can also do these works)• (sorry)

Alternate emergency or long term coastal protection works for landowners• consent is required under State Environmental

Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007, and Part 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 would apply to the works

• no restrictions on material or design• prepare SEE or EIS• lodge a DA with consent authority• consent authority is NSW Coastal Panel until

Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) has been prepared, and Council thereafter

What is the Coastal Panel?

• chair nominated by the NSW Government• three nominees of the Local Government

and Shires Associations of NSW• Office of Environment and Heritage

nominee• Department of Planning nominee• former Land and Property Management

Authority (now abolished) nominee

What matters are consideredin assessment of DA?

• the provisions of any CZMP applying to the land• the matters set out in Clause 8 of State Environmental

Planning Policy No. 71 - Coastal Protection, including:– public access issues– effects on beach amenity– conservation of threatened species of animals and plants and

conservation of fish– the likely impact of coastal processes and coastal hazards on

the development and any likely impacts of the development on coastal processes and coastal hazards

• Section 55M of the Coastal Protection Act 1979

What matters are consideredin assessment of DA?

• works cannot limit public access to beach• satisfactory arrangements must be made

(by conditions imposed on the consent) for– beach restoration over the life of the works if

they cause erosion elsewhere– maintenance of the works– these arrangements are to secure adequate

funding, either landowners paying directly or being subjected to an annual charge for coastal protection services

What happens if landowners don’t follow these procedures?

• landowners are not permitted to install coastal protective works without following procedures described (eg obtaining certificate for temporary sand/sandbags works, or obtaining consent for other works)

• penalties may apply if procedures are not followed

What can Councils do?

• carrying out (or authorising and coordinating) emergency protective works is the role of Councils, if they choose to protect public assets from coastal erosion and inundation (assuming adequate environmental assessment has been carried out and the NSW Coastal Panel has been notified at most locations at present)

• Councils may wish to state that they do not consider that they have a responsibility to protect private property


• works do not require consent under State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 whether emergency or long term, and hence Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979applies

• this means Council must complete an REF or EIS• Council is determining authority• unless sand or sandbags are proposed, or only

replacement, repair or maintenance of works is proposed, the Coastal Panel must be notified and the panel has 21 days to respond (until a Coastal Zone Management Plan has been prepared)


• some emergency works may be exempt development (eg emergency works to protect a road or stormwater management system) if of minimal environmental impact and structurally adequate, based on State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007

What else would Councils do?

• monitor beach erosion and weather/wave conditions and forecasts

• erect barriers and safety signage, eg at damaged beach access points

• provide information and advice to affected beachfront landowners and the wider community

• repair damaged public infrastructure after storm• beach scraping and/or beach nourishment

(generally after storm)

What would SES do?

• warning and evacuation of residents at risk • lifting and/or relocation of readily moveable

household goods and commercial stock and equipment

• role officially activated by release of a “Severe Weather Warning for Damaging Surf” or “Severe Weather Warning for Storm Tides” by Bureau of Meteorology (but can be called upon)

• SES is not authorised to undertake coastal protection works

Office of Environment and Heritage

• formerly Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water

• NSW government office responsible for advising on coastal zone management

• has developed changes to legislation that allow “Part 4c sand/sandbags ECPW”

• assists Councils in assessing coastline hazards and managing those hazards

Bureau of Meteorology

• “Severe Weather Warning for Damaging Surf” issued if waves are forecast to exceed a significant wave height of 5m in the next 24 hours

• this should be distinguished from a “dangerous surf” warning that is less severe, and is issued for the purposes of beach and rock platform safety (for swimmers and rock fishermen) and marine safety (boat access over nearshore bars etc.)

NSW Police responsibilities

• law enforcement • search and rescue• controlling and coordinating evacuation in

conjunction with SES• may act according to their statutory

powers to protect life and property and authorise emergency protective works (but expected to seek advice and ensure approvals are in place)

Options for emergency protection works

• sand-filled geotextile containers• rock (sandstone or basalt)• concrete blocks (standard concrete or

high-density concrete)

Collaroy-Narrabeen Beach, July 2007

Palm Beach, Gold Coast, 2009(from Engineers Australia May 2011 – article by Webb, Lord and Harper)

Assessment ofemergency protection works

• toe or escarpment protection• both 0.75m3 and 2.5m3 bags cannot be

expected to provide adequate protection• sandstone rock is cheapest (about $1,000

to $1,800/m)• 0.75m3 bags would cost about $1,200 to

$3,900/m• 2.5m3 bags would cost about $2,700 to

$5,900/m

Assessment ofemergency protection works

• rock and concrete blocks have well established and accepted design guidelines, and can be sized to provide adequate protection

• rock and concrete blocks have order of magnitude faster placement rates than sandbags, and can be placed at times of storms

• exposed rock after a storm may be unacceptable, and may require removal except when they would be covered with sand during natural beach recovery

Implications

• If a storm occurred today emergency protective works could not be legally implemented on most private and public land in NSW as:– most landowners would not have approvals in

place– most Councils would not have undertaken

environmental assessments and notified the Coastal Panel

Landowners need to

• submit DA’s (with environmental assessment) to Coastal Panel (or Council if a CZMP is in place)

• (note that some believe it is impossible for any emergency works to be implemented)

Councils need to

• undertake environmental assessments of works required for assets that may be at risk and it is desired to protect

• Notify the Coastal Panel (until a CZMP is in place) of any intended works

• this takes time!• there are also risk assessment,

cost:benefit, insurance and priority considerations

Conclusion

• Landowners and Councils must act now to prepare for emergencies, because waiting until a storm occurs will be too late

• Can contact me at [email protected]

Documents

Management of Coastal Erosion Emergencies in …...Outline of Talk • discuss the coastal erosion issue • describe what landowners can do to protect property • discuss Council