Manly Beach Rock Hazard
| About this Item |
Speakers | Barr Mr David |
Business | Private Members Statements |
Page: 8015
Mr BARR (Manly) [12.05 p.m.]: I refer to a topical and contentious matter in my electorate concerning Manly Beach. Last year proactive remediation works were undertaken on parts of the seawall at South Steyne using the specifications devised by a highly reputable firm of coastal engineers, Patterson, Britton and Partners. The works involved the placement of a rock apron at the base of the seawall and extending about 11 metres seaward. The planning for those works had been in train for some years, and the tender to carry out rock toe protection works was supported unanimously by Manly Council on 6 April 1998. Supervision of the project was not contracted out, but was undertaken by Manly Council.
After completion of the works, rocks and building debris were exposed, causing a strong reaction from segments of the public, including Manly Surf Club Incorporated. There appears to be little question that council, as project manager, failed to adequately supervise the works and accurately document details of the works. The seaward six metres of the apron, together with loose debris, were removed in July, August and September 1999. Manly Hydraulics Laboratory, in its advice to Manly Council on the matter on 7 July 1999, stated that there has been an ocean coastal climate conducive to higher than average beach erosion over recent months. The advice concluded:
… it is likely that the observed erosion at Manly Beach is the result of a series of storm events, leaving Manly Beach (and many NSW beaches) exposed to the subsequent complex interaction of oceanographic and coastal processes, most particularly that of sea level rise.
That unusual pattern has since reverted to the more usual pattern, and the portion of the beach affected has been replenished by natural processes. There are no visible rocks and the beach is looking healthy. The issue for council and the community is: Where to from here? Council commissioned a review from Professor Bruce Thom, Chairman of the Coastal Council of New South Wales, with technical input from Manly Hydraulics Laboratory. Two reports were furnished with different recommendations as to what to do. Manly Hydraulics Laboratory recommended a wait-and-see approach, advocating removal of rocks if and when they reappear. Professor Thom recommended removal of the rock apron and other rocks deposited during the years. That would leave the seawall more vulnerable and exposed to the elements than prior to the rock apron works being undertaken.
On 26 July, at a public meeting, Professor Thom said on at least three occasions that if the seawall collapsed it would not be a financial concern to council because the State Government would fund a new seawall. He said that that could be called a cynical approach but it is in line with the New South Wales coastal policy of moving away from property protection and focussing on beaches as entities in their own right. It is difficult to reconcile this ideological approach with a built environment such as that at Manly. If we do not protect the seawall it will collapse, as it has on a dozen occasions, and endanger the public, make a mess of the beach and put at risk heritage Norfolk pines, the pedestrian promenade and properties which front the beach. I find this laissez faire approach to such critical infrastructure breathtaking in its cavalier attitude to the expenditure of public money.
It shows a reckless disregard for the spending priorities of governments of any political persuasion as they wrestle to obtain sufficient funding for schools, hospitals, policing and community services. Why would a State Government fork out money to repair a seawall which has collapsed after the council has deliberately removed its protection from storm events? Where would it leave Manly ratepayers if the Government refused to assist? The potential bill could be millions of dollars. I support the position of the Manly Hydraulics Laboratory because it is the commonsense approach. In order to protect the beach we need to protect the seawall—the two go together. They are not separate issues. Collapse of the seawall would have a catastrophic impact on the beach.
Since the new Manly council was elected in September 1999 it has attempted to blame the former majority group for everything that went wrong. The new majority seems hell-bent on political payback. The council has voted in principle to remove all the rocks and yet has not proposed an alternative seawall protection. The council is prepared to compromise the safety of the seawall, and thus the safety of the beach or promenade and expensive adjacent properties, as part of a petty political campaign to discredit the previous council. It is time Mayor Jean Hay showed leadership in this matter and put the safety of the beach and surrounding properties above petty politics. If she does not, the consequences could be disastrous for Manly beach and for the finances of Manly Council.