Apr 13, 2025 | , A driver who crashed into parked cars at Collaroy has been charged with drink driving Just before 12.30pm this afternoon (Sunday NSW Police and NSW Ambulance responded to a report of a car crashing into two parked cars with enough force to rip off one of its wheels at Anzac Avenue Shocked residents who heard the collision came out to find a silver 2016 SS Commodore (image above) had crashed into two new cars that had been parked on the side of the road The Commodore appears to have been travelling westbound up Anzac Avenue when the driver has not properly taken a bend in the road a short distance past Melody Lane The driver collided with the rear of a one-year-old Nissan Navara utility (image above) at which point the front left wheel has been ripped off the Commodore (main image) before the lack of a front tyre has caused it to veer left into the rear of a three-month-old Hyundai Tucson (image below) Both parked vehicles were unoccupied at the time of the collision The 60-year-old male driver of the Commodore was able to get out of his vehicle but appeared unsteady to observers Although initially agreeing to be assessed by NSW Ambulance Paramedics requested the attendance of police as they believed the man may have been driving while under the influence of alcohol the man was assisted to the side of the road (image below) The low mileage VF Commodore had been in good condition and driven less than 1,000km in the past year The VF model was one of the last Australian manufactured vehicles at the Elizabeth plant in Adelaide Officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command arrived on scene shortly after 1.00pm and spoke with the man before conducting a roadside breath test which allegedly returned a positive result the man was told he had allegedly returned a reading just over the high range Prescribed Concentration of Alcohol (PCA) threshold He was arrested and taken to Dee Why Police Station for further breath analysis The man was subjected to a full breath analysis at Dee Why Police Station which allegedly returned a mid range PCA reading of 0.094 and he was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for driving with a mid range PCA He is due to appear at Manly Local Court on Wednesday The man is subject to an immediate driver licence suspension and disqualification of up to 12 months as a result of the charge If found guilty of mid range drink driving he may also find himself without insurance cover for the damage bill Join us as we go 100% electric and be part of the future of green driving DUI crash at North Narrabeen Dee Why drink driving arrest DUI crash at Narrabeen Woman charged over DUI Drunk driver rolls car Teen arrested for drink driving Call for tougher road rules Duo of daytime drunk drivers Drug driver arrested at Narrabeen Woman charged over Dee Why DUI Cromer rollover driver charged Taxi driver arrested at Bayview Rollover at Palm Beach Manly Vale hit-and-run Dee Why DUI Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress Share via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe NRL coach Des Hasler and wife Christine have sold their luxury oceanfront home on Sydney’s northern beaches after the historic Collaroy property hit the market last month with a price guide of $9 million it was probably close to or above the guide three-bathroom home on Frazer Street sold within its expression of interest campaign SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy link Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. 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A post shared by Sydney Food Spotter 🍴 (@sydneyfoodspotter) Contribute to support the Manly Observer's independent local journalism Become a MO supporter hyperlocal news service covering the Northern Beaches in Sydney with a hyperfocus from Manly to Dee Why We have a fair and non-sensationalist approach to reporting It is run by locals for locals and we depend on your news tips and support to keep going We are a member of the Local Independent News Association News tips: editor@manlyobserver.com.au or text 0435741777 Advertising queries: advertising@manlyobserver.com.au General queries: editor@manlyobserver.com.au  © Manly Observer | All Rights Reserved Cunninghams Real Estate agent Matt Nicastri says homes along the suburb’s coastal strip and in the exclusive enclave known as The Basin continue to command the suburb’s highest prices Images of battered backyards and a swimming pool lost to the ocean in the aftermath of a monstrous 2016 storm have largely faded from the collective conscience the council and the state government have been working to protect the properties and beach from storm surges including constructing a controversial sea wall in 2021 With the overwhelming majority of residents safely removed from immediate contact with the sand and surf Collaroy remains a favourite of northern beaches who has been selling in the area for 15 years and lives in neighbouring Narrabeen “And there’s a lot of great lifestyle amenity that people enjoy.” Jane and Anthony Rocca are building their forever home in The Basin the art deco cinema and the B1 bus line to the city “It’s such a relaxed vibe and we can walk everywhere,” says Jane “Where we live the streets are relatively quiet there’s beautiful trees and the people are really friendly either walking the headland trail or crab-spotting among the rock pools Sans Souci: Life at this hard-to-pronounce Sydney suburb is cruisey Why Sydney’s Chatswood is the ultimate in convenience Kiama: The coastal town where locals are ‘living the dream’ And despite the pummelling Collaroy Beach sometimes suffers there’s no place the locals would rather be there’s people walking to Narrabeen and out in boats,” says Nicastri “It’s a very active community down there.” with Matt Nicastri from Cunninghams Real Estate Merivale’s The Collaroy, the bar at the Surf Life Saving Club, and The Beach Club, set within heritage-listed Arlington Hall, all offer front-row beach views. The locals usually favour the latter for its friendly vibe and no-frills pub grub. Nicastri and his colleagues at Cunninghams are regulars at Outpost Espresso where you can grab coffee and a breakfast wrap or avocado toast from 6am daily. (Add a sandwich or bagel to your order, and get the coffee for half price.) The B-Line bus service was a game-changer for Collaroy, says Nicastri. Delivering city workers to Wynyard in around 45 minutes, the service operates seven days a week, and you’ll find commuter parking adjacent to the beach. 2 Baths2 ParkingView listing Set within the aptly named Facing North, a boutique block of just four apartments, this elegant residence commands sparkling ocean and coastline views. Located in one of Collaroy’s best streets, the property comes with Venetian plaster walls, heated travertine floors, a kitchen with oak veneer cabinetry and Miele appliances, ducted air-conditioning and private lift access. The information on this website is intended to be of a general nature only and doesn't consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. where we are privileged to live and operate We are always looking to grow the Surf Life Saving NSW family Explore our programs and resources and make sure you know how to safely enjoy our coastline before visiting the beach The latest Surf Life Saving news and upcoming events in NSW CPR and Mental Health First Aid courses available across NSW and the ACT Surf Life Saving sport showcases the skills and physical abilities required to save a life Our 75,000 members are core to Surf Life Saving NSW We have a range of resources to support volunteers involved in member training and education Across NSW more than 20,000 patrol members dedicate their time each year to protecting and saving lives along our coastline Our 129 surf lifesaving clubs are the lifeblood of the movement Members can access the SLS Members Online Store via the SLS Members Area or visit the SLSNSW Shop Weekend @ the Roy is a two day carnival focused on team events Thanks to The Events Calendar for their support of the non-profit sector by providing a non-profit license Digital Garden LATEST NEWS LATEST STORIES WEST REPORT by Marcus Reubenstein | Dec 26, 2024 | Government, Latest Posts Is pouring concrete a way of the rich getting richer Vertical seawalls along the New South Wales coastline are extending the frontage of multi-million-dollar residential properties while taking the beachfront away from the public in 2016 residents of Collaroy on Sydney’s northern beaches have been forced to endure a solution that many have dubbed the ugliest wall in Australia A seven-metre-high vertical seawall has been erected along part of the beachfront between Collaroy and Narrabeen it’s robbed locals of beachfront while enriching millionaire property owners by substantially increasing the usable size of their properties The vertical concrete seawall has been erected at the original boundary of waterfront properties; in places filling in land that was once a natural dune between the beach and the property Now property owners are free to build pools and expansive grassed areas leaving behind a public amenity boxed in by a massive concrete wall The justification for vertical seawalls is that they hold back tidal swells protecting the properties and the coastline former general manager of the Pittwater Council on Sydney’s northern beaches “These seawalls are a brutalist solution from the past century He points out that seawalls eventually fail citing events at iconic Manly and Bondi beaches as examples A highly respected coastal engineer with more than 50 years of experience Gordon says a far simpler and more practical solution is in wide use across the world and in particular Queensland’s Gold Coast “Rock revetments are the obvious and inexpensive solution to erosion and they have been successfully used at Collaroy to the south of the current vertical walls A revetment is a sloping installation of rocks that can absorb major storm events while preventing erosion and you’re left with what looks like a dune that doesn’t destroy the natural aesthetic of the waterfront but the underlying rock revetment is there to protect properties if a major storm event occurs whereas once you’ve built a vertical seawall that’s it but much of the Gold Coast coastline is protected by a rock revetment buried under the sandy beach and dunes that have been artificially built by pumping sand from offshore onto the beach.”   While storm surges and beachfront sand erosion are still an issue on the Gold Coast there’s no proposals from any stakeholders to replace revetments with vertical seawalls president of the Northern Beaches Branch of the Surfrider Foundation is that self-interest is behind the push for vertical seawalls “For councils and state government it’s buck-passing as local property owners are footing much of the bill for the seawalls,” he says “But an individual landowner contributing $250,000 to the building of a vertical seawall gives them an immediate return on investment as at least that amount is added to the value of their property It’s a solution of protecting private properties at the expense of community space.” Aside from its mission to preserve coastline the Surfrider Foundation is campaigning against what it says is conflicted advice with a number of waterfront property owners presented with the vertical concrete seawalls as the only option to protect their properties from ocean surges At a meeting of owners of the Marquesas beachfront apartment complex in Narrabeen a council officer was seen to be advocating for the construction of a vertical seawall Aside from issues over its long-term effectiveness and impact on the beachfront landscape it would also be a far more expensive option “Owners were apparently being told a vertical wall had to be constructed and they would have to pay for it Following changes to New South Wales planning laws the state government has effectively pawned off the decision-making process leaving the hard choices to be made by councils “Local councils have incredibly high staff turnovers and council officers cannot keep up with changes they are too easily swayed by outdated coastal engineering thinking nor do they have any idea of the history of the coastal areas they are responsible for.” It seems that lack of knowledge has come to play with coastal protection works at Wamberal on the New South Wales Central Coast There are plans to build three sections of vertical seawalls and Gordon had been appointed to the NSW Planning Department panel to review the proposals “It has been raised with us that you may have had some previous involvement in this project including media comments and presentation of material to the Save our Sands group and may therefore have a reasonably perceived conflict of interest.”  he hit back saying he had no conflict of interests “I believe this attempt to disqualify me is because I have been interested in coastal matters I have what could be seen to be an arguably unmatched knowledge of the issues at Wamberal and any proposal to undertake coastal works.”  According to Gordon the issue was most likely that the panel was giving consideration to a seawall and did not want a dissenting voice coming from a prominent coastal engineer who might advocate a far less costly solution with significantly lesser impact on the environmental landscape The Surfrider Foundation has written to the planning panel asking it to confirm rumours that Gordon will be replaced by an engineer who may have a conflict of interest in advising on the seawall approvals Whilst the panel hasn’t responded a proposed preliminary meeting at which Gordon was originally listed to attend “I believe the panel has all but fallen over one of Sydney’s most iconic harbourside beaches has endured a two-and-a-half-year transformation that was billed as delivering Shark Beach at Nielsen Park an upgraded reinforced seawall and the original engineering firm being sacked halfway into the project Now Shark Beach is missing one thing—a beach At high tide the water is literally lapping at the base of the new seawall beachgoers have been hived off onto concrete steps and a pristine piece of harbour foreshore has been destroyed conflicted stakeholders and a lack of proper oversight “it’s concrete by stealth,” that has the potential to engulf significant areas of the state’s coastline Global warming’s huge and endless cost of rising seas Marcus Reubenstein is an independent journalist with more than twenty-five years of media experience He spent five years at Seven News in Sydney and seven years at SBS World News where he was a senior correspondent As a print journalist he has contributed business stories to most of Australia’s major news outlets Internationally he has worked on assignments for CNN Eurosport and the Olympic Games Broadcasting Service He is the founder and editor of Asian business new website This website is dedicated to the public interest Our focus is investigations into big business Good sources are critical to good journalism We work closely with our contacts and jealously guard their identities About  |  Contact  |  Privacy New Dragons skipper Clint Gutherson has signalled a huge move that should put him well and truly in the good books of fans of the struggling NRL club St George Illawarra Dragons recruit Clint Gutherson has exited Sydney’s Northern Beaches Gutherson and his partner Jesse Arena have leased out their Collaroy Plateau home to relocate to Wollongong in Dragons heartland enjoy a change of scenery,” he foreshadowed last November after signing a three-year deal with the Red V club 1 jersey under coach Shane Flanagan after nine seasons at the Parramatta Eels “I feel really excited and honoured to be able to come here and put this jersey on and have that badge on my chest,” Gutherson said He said the relocation would give him “a chance to really buy into what they’re doing and be close to training and all the boys” MORE: Insane amount Albo’s mansion will cost taxpayers St George Illawarra Dragons recruit Clint Gutherson and partner Jesse Arena have leased out their Collaroy Plateau home The five-bedroom home features a garden and an entertainer’s deck which opens to a pool Gutherson’s five-bedroom rental listing came down mid-January after seeking $3500-a-week tenants It was marketed by The North Agency as a “picture-perfect home” and a “true Pinterest dream” Collaroy Plateau’s median house rental is $1275 up 2 per cent annually after tracking 48 lettings but rising 22 per cent annually to $1695 for its four-bedroom offerings The H & C Design contemporary home plans came with an estimated $960,000 construction cost MORE: Gen Z’s wild money expectations exposed The couple had built two years ago after they demolished the 1960s home that cost the former Eels fullback $1,875,500 in 2019 Back then it was pitched as providing a blank canvas offered for the first time in six decades through local agent Nick Scarf with an entertainer’s deck which opens to a pool on the 645sq m block Gutherson also has an investment apartment in Mona Vale which he recently sought $750-a-week tenants for up from the $590-a-week asking price back in 2022 The two-bedroom 1960s apartment cost $800,000 in 2016 the year he signed for the Eels after departing Manly Sea Eagles having paid $1.2m along with other family members in 2018 MORE: Aussie fashion tycoon reveals embarrassing home truth third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. NRL coach Des Hasler and wife Christine have listed their luxury oceanfront home on Sydney’s northern beaches but it is understood expectations are about $9 million The offering comes after the couple decamped north of the border following Hasler’s appointment as coach of the Gold Coast Titans. A former Manly stalwart Hasler took on the Queensland-based role after he was controversially sacked from the Sea Eagles in 2022 The three-bedroom home at 30 Park Street was on the market for the first time since 1992 when it last sold for $260,000, records show. The home was one of 717 properties scheduled to go under the hammer in Sydney on Saturday. By evening, Domain Group recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 66.3 per cent from 498 reported results, while 123 auctions were withdrawn. Withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold properties when calculating the clearance rate. The 697-square-metre block had no trouble drawing six registered bidders, including first-timers and upgraders across Sydney. Bidding started at $1.8 million and went up in $50,000 increments for most of the auction as half took part in the sell-off. It sold for $2.33 million to a local couple upgrading from south Sydney. The reserve was $2.2 million. Happy seller Pamela Sayers said she bought the home in the 90s with the intention of renovating it but relocated to Canberra soon after and rented it to her sister instead. Property magnate pays $35m cash for Double Bay house to knock it down Insta-glam: Millennial rag trader buys $22.7m Bellevue Hill home The most popular inner Sydney suburbs for home buyers on a budget Pamela said she was thrilled to sell it to a young couple to turn it into a family home. “I’m happy with the result and I’m happy with the people who have bought it…it’s sort of handing it onto another generation,” she said. The successful buyers Manu, 42, and Kristen, 33, were over the moon to walk away with the keys. “It has been a few sleepless nights leading up to it,” Manu said. “It’s a beautiful area. So close to the beach.” Kristen said she had never considered the Northern Beaches until a month ago. “We live in the south [of Sydney]. We only saw this house three weeks ago, and hadn’t considered the Northern Beaches,” Kristen said. “My husband was trying to get me to look at the Northern Beaches, he said ‘come look at the house,’ and I just fell in love with the area.” In Concord, a five-bedroom house at 13 Alton Avenue sold for $3.9 million to a family upgrading from a neighbouring suburb. 3 Baths2 ParkingView listing The 620-square-metre block, which allows for duplex redevelopment, had a guide of $3.5 million and four registered bidders – all families looking to upgrade except for one builder-developer. Bidding opened at $3.4 million and rose in varying increments as all vied for the keys to the property. The reserve was $3.8 million. Horwood Nolan’s Ben Horwood said there were plenty of buyers out there, but some had strict budgets in the current environment. “There were some people who had hard-set limits. It wasn’t an auction that dragged out for a long period of time…[those with limits] pulled up stumps pretty quickly.” 2 Baths2 ParkingView listing In Eastlakes, half a dozen buyers, a mix of downsizers, upgrades and investors, registered to bid on 18 Robinson Street. The three-bedroom house had a $2.3 million to $2.5 million guide and was described as good value compared to the surrounding suburbs of Kingsford, Kensington and Bondi. An opening bid of $2.4 million kicked off the auction with four buyers raising the price from there in $50,000 and $25,000 for most of it. It sold for $2,685,000 to a downsizer from Vaucluse who outbid an investor who wanted to purchase it for their children as a way into the property market. The reserve was $2.65 million. McGrath Maroubra’s Ersin Esmek said it was a standout result because it was turnkey. “It shows renovated homes are doing so much better than original homes,” Esmek said. “A lot of people are time poor and don’t want to renovate and want to move right in.” He said not only was the location favourable but also the price point. “Our area is still affordable for a lot of families. This house would have been $3 million in the surrounding suburbs. [Buyers from those areas] see more value in Eastlakes.” Records show that the home last sold for $1,187,000 in 2014. Dec 31, 2024 | , A cyclist was taken to hospital in a critical condition by helicopter from Collaroy Just before 7.30am yesterday morning (Monday including officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command NSW Ambulance and Fire Rescue NSW Dee Why Station responded to a report of a cyclist travelling northbound seriously injured at Pittwater Road A number of bystanders are reported to have gone to the assistance of the male cyclist in his 50s The exact cause of the incident remains unclear with the man believed to have experienced a medical episode and falling from his bike Three NSW Ambulance crews responded to the scene including Intensive Care Paramedics from Narrabeen Ambulance Station and NSW Ambulance Inspector Christian Holmes Paramedics were on scene within several minutes assessing the 54-year-old semiconscious man with a serious head injury The Toll NSW Ambulance Rescue Helicopter with a critical care medical team was tasked to Collaroy The man was moved by NSW Ambulance from the incident scene at Pittwater Road to the helicopter at Griffith Park With an obvious head injury but also suspected internal injuries The trauma doctor and paramedics worked to stabilise his condition The medical team worked on the man at Griffith Park for an hour to stabilise him sufficiently for transport to hospital He was placed into an induced coma and treated for internal and potential spinal injuries The man’s critical condition determined that a transfer to Royal North Shore Hospital by helicopter was necessary 31 December) confirmed that the man remains in hospital and that his condition is now considered to be stable Ku-ring-gai Chase cycling injuries Cyclist overboard at West Head Cyclist dies in hospital Cyclists hit by car at Belrose Cyclist injured at Avalon Cycling event crash Jan 31, 2025 | , Police have located a girl who went missing from a Northern Beaches school Concerns were raised for the welfare of the 12-year-old girl who was reported missing to NSW Police after she could not be located or contacted She was last seen at 10.45am this morning (Friday 31 January) wearing her school uniform at Collaroy Following inquiries and a public appeal for assistance officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command began a search for the girl who was also known to frequent Beacon Hill The PolAir Helicopter was observed conducting an aerial search of the Beacon Hill and Collaroy areas around 4.00pm A NSW Police geo-targeted SMS message was sent to the area around Collaroy Plateau with a description of the girl shortly after 5.00pm multiple calls were received by police of possible sightings in the area around the Narrabeen Lagoon Trail between South Creek Road and it is understood that the girl was located along the trail in an emotional and agitated state Police took the girl into custody and called NSW Ambulance Paramedics transported her to Northern Beaches Hospital in a stable condition for further assessment shortly before 7.00pm Des Hasler has severed his final link to his beloved Manly The sold sticker has gone up on supercoach Des Hasler’s beachfront home in the heart of Sea Eagles’ territory severing his last link with God’s own country on Sydney’s northern beaches The man they call the ‘Mad Professor’ and former much-loved Eagles coach bought Moana on the Collaroy beachfront in 2010 for $2.82m, lived in it and renovated it thoroughly before listing it for sale through Belle Property for an ‘offers closing’ campaign ending September 19 By lunchtime on Thursday though the deal had been done fuelling speculation that Des and his wife Christine got the $9m plus price they were looking for Own a town for the cost of a home Agents have so far been tight-lipped about the deal Agent Joshue Perry is staying tight-lipped with a price undisclosed line on the listing but sales nudging double-digits in Collaroy are not that common There have been only two residential sales above $10m in Collaroy in the last three years and only one house sale north of $9m in Collaroy this year If Moana sold for more than $9.1m it would be the third highest sale in the suburb has been associated with the Manly Sea Eagles since 1984 MORE: ‘Doesn’t sit well’: Albo flogs rental after booting tenant He and his family have lived in the home since buying it for $2.82m in 2010 Last year he moved north to take up the head coach role of the Gold Coast Titans now sitting in 14th place in the NRL ladder and out of this year’s finals are hanging in at seventh place and must win their semi-final match on Saturday against the Sydney Roosters to keep their finals hopes alive Moana is on a level corner block in a quiet cul de sac with breathtaking views of Collaroy beach a 28m beach frontage and direct access onto the sand MORE: ‘Many millions’: Trump’s big win over Harris Hugh Jackman and Des Hasler during the glory days at Manly three-bathroom cottage circa 1890 is a single-level home on 967sqm of land a marble kitchen with butler’s pantry and farmhouse sink the main bedroom has an ocean view and ensuite and there is a sandstone outdoor entertaining pavilion with timber deck for inviting friends over to talk about the footy MORE: Wall d**ks, kitchen dunnies, 40 cats: Oz’s worst homes revealed Jul 13, 2024 | , A teenage boy has been assaulted and robbed of his shoes at Collaroy Beach NSW Police and NSW Ambulance were called to a report of a possible stabbing at a park next to Collaroy Beach at Birdwood Avenue officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command determined there had not been a stabbing but a 16-year-old boy had been assaulted and robbed of his shoes The boy did not sustain any obvious injuries as a result of the robbery but said he had been punched in the face and appeared visibly shaken by the experience He was assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to Northern Beaches Hospital for further observation NSW Police commenced a search of the area for any youths matching the description of those who had allegedly robbed the teen A vehicle travelling southbound was quickly pulled over and searched nearby at Pittwater Road but after speaking with police the three young male occupants were found to have no connection to the incident Following inquiries by the Northern Beaches Advocate a NSW Police spokesperson confirmed that an investigation into the incident has commenced and asked for information from the public “Officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command arrived and were told a 16-year-old boy had his shoes stolen “Anyone with information on the incident is urged to contact Dee Why Police Station on 02 9971 3399 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” said the NSW Police spokesperson The incident has occurred in the context of escalating youth crime in the area NSW Police are seeking public assistance in relation to this matter. If you have any information that may assist them with their inquiries, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 Youth crime spree Armed teen arrested at Aldi Delivery driver attacked Teen brawl at Narrabeen Bike thieves thwarted Unruly youths at Forestville Arrests after brawl at Manly Shop owner’s crime plea Mayhem at Mona Vale Arrest for Brookvale break-ins Teen crime spree Teen robbed at Collaroy Teen robbed at Warriewood Police swoop on servo suspect Teen assault at Mona Vale Arrest over Newport brawl Sep 28, 2024 | , A police pursuit in the early hours of this morning ended in a crash at Collaroy officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command were patrolling at Collaroy when they spotted a utility (ute) with two male occupants allegedly being driven erratically Police initiated a pursuit after the driver of the ute allegedly failed to stop when directed accelerating eastbound along Cumberland Avenue The driver of the ute failed to negotiate a bend in the road down an embankment and into a brick wall in front of a home The ute had broken through the brick retaining wall and hit a gas meter were able to safely get themselves out of the vehicle at which point they were apprehended and arrested by pursuing police Firefighters from Fire and Rescue NSW Dee Why Station were called arriving at the incident scene shortly before 3.30am Assessing the risk posed by the ruptured gas line closing Cumberland Avenue to traffic and evacuating residents from two nearby homes were also dispatched to the incident scene from Narrabeen Ambulance Station The two male suspects were assessed for injury in separate ambulances under police guard Neither appeared to have suffered any physical harm but both were taken to Royal North Shore Hospital under police escort for further testing shortly after 4.00am As firefighters in breathing apparatus established fire protection with a hose line monitored readings with a gas detector and stabilised the vehicle one firefighter was able to get beneath the ute to inspect the damaged gas pipe just before 4.15am they were able to carefully cut away part of the car and reach the shut off valve on the gas meter to stop the flow of gas Although the immediate danger had been neutralised police and Jemena workers remained on scene until a tow truck could arrive and remove the ute from the wall shortly before 7.00am A spokesperson for NSW Police said the matter was now under investigation and that police would be awaiting the outcome of test results from the two men before determining what charges may be laid in relation to the incident Unknown driver crashes car Two die in car crash at Balgowlah Arrests after police pursuit Rollover at Dee Why Rollover at McCarrs Creek Run off the road at Beacon Hill Man arrested after pursuit Teen rolls car at Warriewood High-speed crash at Ingleside Rollover at Warriewood Ute driver charged Akuna Bay rollover The Weekly SOURCE is published by DCM Media The world-first coastal hazard system reduces the risks associated with Australian coastal storms A new framework for a national early warning system (EWS) developed by UNSW engineers can forecast the beach erosion and flooding impacts of storms approaching Australia’s sandy coastlines The coastal hazard system predicts the severity of impacts every 100 metres alongshore and at identified ‘hotspots’ – considered vulnerable or housing valuable infrastructure – in near real time It delivers rolling seven-day forecasts to local and regional coastal managers and emergency response agencies through a web portal The engineers detailed their system in a research paper published today in the international journal Coastal Engineering Changing storm patterns are emerging with climate change, affecting beachfront areas in diverse ways, says lead researcher Professor Ian Turner from UNSW’s Water Research Lab (WRL) Coastal hazards associated with significant weather events can extend over large regions yet vary greatly in local impact An EWS can provide the localised predictions coastal managers need to better prepare for emergencies and protect vulnerable coastal communities and property For enquiries about this story and to arrange interviews “Coastal storms pose a threat to livelihoods and assets along Australia’s coastlines: not just homes and buildings but roads power and water utility corridors [and] sewerage lines,” says the coastal specialist “Our forecasting system enables us to anticipate the impacts of coming storms will the beach become narrower or is it going to erode or indeed is it going to flood?” Australia’s open ocean coastline is around 30,000 kilometres long; around a third of this shoreline is sandy Approximately 50 per cent of Australians live within seven kilometres of the coast The great majority of our urban and industrial infrastructure is located in coastal settings where sandy beaches experience relatively high wave energy We’re accustomed to checking weather apps for hazardous heat, rain, wind, even surf, says Prof. Turner. “But while we've seen some pretty dramatic impacts of storms on the coast national forecasting agencies around the world don't have the capability to send out a coastal erosion warning when a storm is approaching.” The framework for national-scale coastal storm hazards early warning was developed in partnership with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) NSW Department of Planning and Environment the University of Western Australia (UWA) and UNSW Sydney The research was funded by an Australian Research Council (ARC) linkage grant The EWS has been piloted in two geographically distinct regions since mid 2023 to facilitate future wide-scale deployment: on the east (Pacific Ocean) coast characterised by quartz sandy beaches; and on the west (Indian and Southern Oceans) coast ~350 km around Perth characterised by a mix of sand beaches and limestone nearshore reefs Hazards are categorised using a new Storm Hazard Matrix to help coastal managers identify appropriate management responses The matrix considers the compound severity of their erosion (from minor beach narrowing to dune retreat) and flooding hazards It draws on data from government partners on sea-floor mapping The BoM also developed an experimental high-resolution wave modelling system that delivers seven-day wave forecasts for this project the research team has hindcast past storm events The storm affected a 2000 km stretch of Australia’s east coast from Tasmania to the Queensland border flooding towns and damaging infrastructure “Along many of the impacted beaches – for example Collaroy-Narrabeen here in Sydney – some areas of the beach experienced very dramatic damage and erosion while nearby at the same beach the changes were much less dramatic,” Prof “Using our measurements of the changes that occurred along the NSW coastline in June 2016 we can retrospectively see how well we would have done in that storm and yes we memorably saw that swimming pool lying on the beach and homes being evacuated.” Coastal setting significantly influences storm hazards “While most existing coastal hazard EWSs forecast flooding risks Australia’s narrow continental shelf means beach erosion poses a greater risk,” he says Flooding predominantly occurs along coastlines dominated by storm surges (powerful ocean movements caused by wind and low pressure on the ocean’s surface) “In much of North America and large areas of Europe so most of the wave energy tends to dissipate before it gets to the coastline the more densely populated and developed areas of Australian coastline – to the southeast and southwest – are less affected by storm surges “It's actually wave energy [from storms] hitting the coast that impacts and erodes our beaches and damages coastal infrastructure.” Flooding is an issue for some West Australian coastal zones says Associate Professor Jeff Hansen from UWA travelling south from the Perth metro area the primary hazard transitions from erosion to inundation in Geographe Bay where the coastal profile is wide and shallow,” he says Australia is a large continent with a really diverse coastline “By delivering timely information about approaching coastal storms the new forecasting system we have developed with our partners can improve community preparedness and risk-reduction measures to help reduce potential impacts to property critical infrastructure and loss of life.” The pilot Australian Beach Erosion and Coastal Flooding EWS can be viewed through the web portal UNSW respectfully acknowledges the Bidjigal clan of the Dharawal Nation on whose unceded lands we are privileged to learn and recognise the broader Nations with whom we walk together UNSW acknowledges the enduring connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to culture The Uluru Statement Nov 16, 2024 | Public safety incidents are organised by suburb “The 2016 storm that hit Collaroy caused much beach erosion and impacted housing near the beach Our excursion looked at the management strategies implemented to improve this erosion One strategy that was very eye-catching was the sea walls that were built to stop the beach from eroding further in particular the vertical concrete seawall which was established to make the water splash up and away preventing the housing near the beach from being impacted again by severe waves The excursion gave us an insight into how changes over time have helped shape Narrabeen and Collaroy beaches and a massive shout out to our teachers for taking us on this excursion” “I was fascinated to learn about the complex dynamics of coastal erosion and its impact on urban development we discovered how natural forces such as tides wind and waves shape the coastline on a continuous basis presenting both opportunities and challenges to coastal communities Witnessing firsthand the erosion vulnerability of buildings and infrastructure highlighted the importance of taking proactive risk-mitigation measures I learned about strategies like sand replenishment all of which play important roles in protecting our coastal environments learning about the Coastal Erosion Emergency Action Sub-Plan demonstrated the importance of being prepared when dealing with erosion events This experience not only expanded my understanding of coastal processes but it also emphasised the importance of long-term coastal management approaches to protect both communities and ecosystems I'm so grateful for this experience and the opportunity to know more about our Australian beaches” Term 2 Parents and Carers Meeting 😀 All parents and carers are invited This meeting will be a chance to hear what is happening at the school The Catherine McAuley Weekly Review for Thursday 1st May is now available: LEST WE FORGET 🌹 Year 11 Modern History students led the school this morning in an ANZAC Reflection Students and staff were asked to remember the Australian men and women who died or suffered in the great tragedy of war YEAR 7 😀 Year 7 returned for their second term at high school today this time wearing their winter uniforms for the first time Remember that students must wear their blazer to and from school and that stockings are part of the winter uniform #year7 #winteruniform #catherinemcauley #catherinemcauleywestmead WELCOME TO TERM 2 😀 Welcome to all students returning today for Term 2 2025 The autumn colours are beginning to show in Mercy Square Year 11 Catherine McAuley students joined Donna Davis MP at a community engagement event to discuss plans for North Parramatta Year 9 MAG Leaders (Mercy in Action Group) and the Environment Student Leaders attended the Mercy 5 Eco-Justice Retreat Day at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic College Burraneer Two writing examples from Year 8 English students A Year 11 Legal Studies student has been selected for an online media internship program built with funds donated by Elizabeth Jenkins Photograph courtesy of the Warringah Library lonely old lady in the late 1800s was the catalyst for what has become an iconic Salvation Army ministry centre established on Sydney’s Northern Beaches a substantial real estate holding for the organisation that was to become not only a centre for Salvation Army ministry but a valuable resource that would financially empower the fledgling organisation The Army’s presence in this region connects to James Jenkins a convicted thief sentenced to be transported to NSW who arrived on board the Coromandel on 13 June 1802 James was involved in shipbuilding and farming and successfully gained land grants at Kissing Point much of his landholding came to his daughter who had already inherited land from Alexander McDonald the Jenkins family owned most of the foreshore land from Mona Vale to Dee Why It was a visit to Elizabeth during her later years that was to set the scene for a substantial bequest to The Salvation Army Having never married and being advanced in years resulted in Elizabeth joining The Salvation Army and gifting various parcels of land on the Northern Beaches to the organisation the Army agreed to provide lifetime financial support to various members of the Jenkins family Salvation Army history records that Elizabeth Jenkins was converted at one of the early corps She was promoted to glory on 26 June 1900 and buried at what is now the Collaroy Centre The remaining part of her vast estate was bequeathed to The Salvation Army Members of the Jenkins family contested the will; however The Salvation Army claim to the estate was upheld A number of social initiatives were commenced on parts of the estate by the Army including a farm for recently released prisoners an alcoholic’s rehabilitation centre and homes for abandoned or orphaned children The first gift from Elizabeth Jenkins in 1885 of 30 acres of land on the shores of Narrabeen Lagoon There followed other gifts of land in the Dee Why area and a donation of £400 for The Salvation Army to build in 1892 a Home of Rest for officers who had become unwell An early photo of the Men’s Home at Collaroy This building still stands on the Pacific Lodge Aged Care facility site the Home of Rest was in operation soon after as the Illustrated Sydney News reported on Saturday 25 November 1893: “The Salvation Army have a resting house for their hard-worked officers which is beautifully situated on the side of a hill overlooking the sea.” It appears that some social ministry was already underway in 1891 with an article in the Australian Town and Country Journal of Saturday 3 January of that year reporting that “a four-acre plot of land is being cleared for the purpose of supplying a reformatory in connection with The Salvation Army is the gift of a philanthropic maiden lady residing in the district” The Sydney Morning Herald of Saturday 2 May 1896 reported: “During the week Colonel Estill paid a visit of inspection to the labour industrial farm at Pittwater He found that rapid progress was being made with the work and that several new departures were about to be made the most important of these being the establishment of a dairy and it is hoped that there will soon be 20.” it appears that there were significant Salvation Army social enterprises in operation © The Salvation Army 2025  Jul 17, 2024 | , An intoxicated youth was taken to hospital after crashing an allegedly stolen e-bike at Collaroy Shortly after 5.30am Sunday morning (14 July) NSW Police and NSW Ambulance were called to a report of an e-bike rider crashing into a parked car at Pittwater Road heavily alcohol intoxicated and also suspected to be under the influence of drugs It is understood members of the public who had witnessed the collision had gone to the aid of the 15-year-old who had hit his head and was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash The boy was reportedly agitated and abusive to paramedics and officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command who searched him and allegedly found him to be in the possession of a knife who found him to be suffering a head injury in addition to his intoxication Paramedics treated him at the scene for possible spinal and internal injuries as a precaution In addition to allegedly being in possession of a knife the youth was found to be in breach of his bail conditions and the e-bike he was riding at the time of the collision was suspected by police of being stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained The boy was placed under police guard and taken by NSW Ambulance to Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick in a stable condition for treatment of his injuries and intoxication just after 6.15am He was released from medical care at 1.00pm Sunday afternoon at which point he was arrested and taken to Manly Police Station where he was charged with goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen He was refused bail on Sunday to appear at a Children’s Court on Monday (15 July 2024) It is understood the 15-year-old boy has since been released on conditional bail NSW Police have tonight been responding to multiple reports of disorderly youths in the vicinity of Narrabeen and Warriewood Teens arrested for assault Troublesome teen arrested Police nab teen vandals We’ve seen some shocking images from Wamberal this week reminding us of the pounding storms of 2016 which caused such incredible damage to waterfront properties at Collaroy Council has been working hard to change policies and remove some of the red tape that stood in the way of private property owners being able to build a wall to protect their own properties.  The main sticking point has been that a sea wall has the potential to damage not just the public beach it sits on or next to but also to push the problem down the beach causing the same issue for other residents or other public assets State government rules don’t allow people to just go ahead and build a sea wall without taking all of these issues into account In order to support residents through this complicated process Council stepped in to commission numerous and costly technical studies undertake a great deal of lobbying and develop a whole new local coastal management system to get to a place where residents can now legally take action to protect their homes the costs to construct a structure that will withstand the shifting sands and pounding waves likely in the hundreds of thousands of dollars is also a big ask for many of the residents at risk which is why Council and State Government have offered additional funding support to assist these residents in fixing this decades-old problem we have a new coastal management system which does allow all residents to do property protection works with DA approval with some conditions applied to protect the long term integrity of the public beach and other neighbours Property owners who need to come forward on to part of the public beach also need to seek approval from the State government to use public land 4 are under assessment and 21 are still to make a submission to Council.  We understand 10 of those properties with approvals are on track to have the protection works in place by Christmas The outstanding 4 DAs are likely to be resolved within weeks Council continues to urge those who have not yet submitted to get their applications in as soon as they can.  there is also a grant system now in place that provides residents with funding support for up to 20% of the value of the works - 10% provided by Council and another 10% by the NSW Government Property owners have been able to apply for this assistance since June 2019 It has been a long process but at Council we believe we have done everything in our power to support the residents to get to this point and ensure they have legal standing to protect their properties from another storm like we experienced in 2016 Learn more about the process and see the timeline We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and their Country By these words we show our respect to all Aboriginal people present and emerging and the spirits and ancestors of the Clans that lived in this area Northern Beaches council considers plan to add 80 metres of controversial concrete wall as massive swells batter coastal properties in Sydney What some consider the ugliest wall in Australia could soon be bigger with residents pushing to extend the Collaroy seawall on Sydney’s northern beaches Northern Beaches council has received a new application by five local property owners to build two new sections of the wall in front of their properties to protect the homes from coastal erosion and massive swells. Under the plan, a 50-metre and a 30-metre section of wall would be added either side of South Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club. In total there would be an extra 80 metres of concrete wall constructed. Residents would cover 80% of the cost, paying up to $250,000 each, with the state government and local council splitting the rest between them, the ABC reported on Sunday. The new construction would protect an additional five homes from violent storms which can lash the beach – but would not protect the surf club. The club could require additional work to protect it from erosion and there could be issues with what is known as “end-wall effects” – a situation where one wall finishes and connects to another structure. A spokesperson for the Northern Beaches council said the new development application was “under assessment and will be considered on its merits”. “Our beaches, along with public and private assets along the northern beaches coast, face risks from our changing climate,” they said. “The damage done to Collaroy beach and various public and private assets in 2016 demonstrated the need for action on this important issue. Retreat is a viable option in some circumstances but on Collaroy-Narrabeen beach, given the hundreds of millions of dollars of property at risk, protection has been the predominant strategy for many years.” Coastal engineer Angus Gordon, who has been a vocal opponent of the seawall, said the proposed extension violated the Coastal Management Act which prohibits new constructions that interfere with coastal processes. “I’m not surprised by the application but I am surprised council is treating it seriously after the experience with the existing wall,” Gordon said. “It was supposed to be a wall that would only protrude one metre to two metres out of the sand, but the beach has dropped dramatically and it now protrudes six metres. At one put council had to put up a sign saying it was dangerous to go along the beach in that area.” Read moreAssociate Prof Kristen Splinter, a coastal engineer with the University of New South Wales Water Research Laboratory said historically bad planning decisions placing homes and public assets close to the water were responsible for the situation at Narrabeen emergency services will no longer be responding to situations involving property damage but potentially life-threatening scenarios I’m fairly neutral in the sense that I see why the private owners want it and I see why the public are worried about losing their asset,” she said “There’s no nice clean situation where everyone seems to win here so we have to use our best science and our best engineers for how to protect it and learn from those if those things need to change in the future.” Surf Life Saving New South Wales said a recent audit found none of the 21 clubs on the northern beaches had been affected by coastal erosion “to the extent it would prevent operational lifesaving emergency responses and operations” “SLSNSW supports any proactive preventative actions by local and state governments in protecting our surf life saving clubs from coastal erosion and rising sea levels,” a spokesperson said on Sunday “SNLSW and Northern Beaches council have a very collaborative and supportive relationship In regards to the planned extension of the Collaroy sea wall SLSNSW is confident council and the state government have conducted the appropriate planning and impact studies to ensure any construction will not have any adverse affect on nearby lifesaving clubs and infrastructure.” Once considered too far from the CBD for office workers based in the city, Collaroy’s popularity surged in 2017 with the introduction of the B-Line bus service, which operates frequent city buses seven days a week, and again through the pandemic when more people were able to work from home. “As soon as the B-Line went in, we got buyers coming up here [who were] happy to commute, which has brought a different calibre of buyer into the area and helped to build prices,” says Steve Witt of Belle Property Dee Why. Many buyers kick off their Collaroy property journey with a unit in the valley, then head up to Collaroy Plateau to raise a family in a free-standing house before migrating to “the flats” – the valley or the basin – when they’re in a position to buy a home within reach of the beach. Witt says unit prices start at $700,000 for older one-bedders, ranging up to $3 million-plus for brand-new three-bedders, while house prices start at around $2 million on the plateau, $3 million in the valley and $6 million in the basin. The Long Reef Golf Club, one of Sydney’s most picturesque courses, claims a prized position on the suburb’s eastern peninsula, and the Long Reef Headland protects the beach from most southerly swells, making this a favourite spot for both swimmers and beginner surfers. Narromine: the country town in NSW with its own aviation museum Behind the Listing: A mid-century marvel in Orange NSW AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Link copiedShareShare articleWaves up to 8 metres have hit Collaroy on Sydney's northern beaches crashing into beachfront properties and causing an in-ground swimming pool to collapse About seven houses and a unit block were evacuated at Collaroy as a huge low pressure system moved over the state Sunday night "One of the properties along that strip actually lost an entire in-ground pool which had moved about five metres out to sea," Inspector Reimer said Waves made it about 50 metres onto the main road The beach and embankments have been left covered in debris Collaroy local Craig Graham said the beach looked like a disaster zone "The waves must have come up pretty high last night," Mr Graham said "The club looks like it's lost all its balcony "You could tell it was going to happen yesterday but it must have got a hell of a lot worse last night." Mr Graham said the last time he had seen such a huge storm was about 20 years ago — another east coast low "It's the worst I've seen it here," he said "I've never seen it come up this high with this amount of storm surge and I've been living here about 40 years "I'd say they've got a bit of work to do UNSW coastal engineer Mitchell Harley said erosion caused by the waves was "particularly concerning" "[Collaroy] is a well-known erosion hot-spot and has been identified as one of the top five along the New South Wales coast," Dr Harley said. More than 100 northern beaches residents were housed in two evacuation centres on Sunday night. More than 100 people were housed in two evacuation centres. (ABC News: Amanda Hoh) Cromer Community Centre and Pittwater RSL provided the residents with shelter, food, and blankets. "We accommodated people in hotels and made sure people had friends and family to go to," Family and Community Services operations manager Leslie Russell said. "Once police say it's safe for people to return home, we'll provide transport back to homes. "The staff have done an amazing job and some of them have been affected themselves." Earlier, the SES said crews were heading to the area to assess the damage. Collaroy Beach Club shows the damage from a high tide and low pressure system. (ABC News: Amanda Hoh) CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time This northern beaches coast – sufficiently famous to be included in the Beach Boys’ 1963 hit Surfin’ USA – is perhaps one of the state’s most studied coastal erosion sites But with a La Nina event set to bring heavy rains thunderstorms and strong swells this summer it’s not just Collaroy Beach likely to see erosion The coastal strip was pummelled during a massive storm in 2016 that damaged homes and pulled a swimming pool into the ocean costing homeowners and local government almost $25 million to fix Another two big storms further eroded the sand dune in July 2020 council and the state government have been working to protect the properties and beach from storm surges including building a seven-metre-tall concrete wall at least three-quarters of the wall will be covered by sand Northern beaches community attending a rally to protest against the building of a seawall from Collaroy.Credit: Steven Siewert The project stretches 1.3 kilometres from Collaroy to South Narrabeen encompassing 49 private properties dotted with 11 public land areas And the works have become the topic of local controversy with some residents worried that the seawall will cause more harm than good and sand directly in front of the wall could be washed away in the next storm President of the northern beaches branch of the Surfrider Foundation organised a protest on Saturday to encourage council to invest in alternative measures to protect the beach including a nourishment plan that would artificially replace the sand The local community group has been protesting against a seawall for almost 30 years “Protective works are a far preferable measure to a vertical seawall,” he said Northern Beaches Council said there had been comprehensive community consultation about the council’s coastal zone management plan for Collaroy Beach Senior lecturer at the UNSW Water Research Laboratory Mitchell Harley said many of the erosion issues that Collaroy faced stem from poor planning almost 100 years ago Many other coastal communities face similar legacy issues with councils in desperate need of greater support to address contentious issues President of the Northern Beaches branch of the Surfrider Foundation “There are a number of these places up and down the coast and we are trying to solve issues that were put in place hundreds of years ago The lesson from that is with climate change and sea level rises there is an increase in pressures on the coasts,” he said “We will see more and more of these issues come up and so the important thing is that we don’t create additional legacy issues by poor planning decisions that we make today.” The La Nina weather pattern declared this week will add further pressure on many coastal communities rain and storm events likely to worsen erosion The construction of the new Collaroy seawall.Credit: Brook Mitchell Dr Harley and his colleagues have been measuring the erosion on Collaroy for 45 years and found it was usually worse during La Nina The team will be monitoring the beach through newly installed instruments to observe how weather systems impacted on beaches and seawalls “Normally we get waves coming from the south or south-east so they are more easterly,” Dr Harley said This means there’s a higher risk of more erosion on the beach and also “beach rotation” – where the beach realigns itself to the prevailing wind direction This typically means the northern end of the beach gets narrower and the southern ends get larger The scene after the storm damaged properties at Collaroy in 2016 A report by the Insurance Council of Australia estimates the Australian government will need to invest $30 billion in large scale coastal protection and adaptation projects over the next 50 years The projected figure represents just 1.2 per cent of the average yearly infrastructure spending by all local The report noted insurance cover for “actions of the sea” are generally not available and are further constrained due to the increasing risks from climate change The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here This northern beaches coast \\u2013 sufficiently famous to be included in the Beach Boys\\u2019 1963 hit Surfin\\u2019 USA \\u2013 is perhaps one of the state\\u2019s most studied coastal erosion sites it\\u2019s not just Collaroy Beach likely to see erosion The coastal strip was pummelled that damaged homes and pulled a swimming pool into the ocean \\u201CProtective works are a far preferable measure to a vertical seawall,\\u201D he said Northern Beaches Council said there had been comprehensive community consultation about the council\\u2019s coastal zone management plan for Collaroy Beach \\u201CThere are a number of these places up and down the coast there is an increase in pressures on the coasts,\\u201D he said \\u201CWe will see more and more of these issues come up and so the important thing is that we don\\u2019t create additional legacy issues by poor planning decisions that we make today.\\u201D \\u201CNormally we get waves coming from the south or south-east so they are more easterly,\\u201D Dr Harley said This means there\\u2019s a higher risk of more erosion on the beach and also \\u201Cbeach rotation\\u201D \\u2013 where the beach realigns itself to the prevailing wind direction The report noted insurance cover for \\u201Cactions of the sea\\u201D are generally not available and are further constrained due to the increasing risks from climate change The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories Beachfront residents back the Collaroy wall but other locals worry the beach will disappear for longer periods as climate change increasingly drives coastal erosion “We really didn’t want to build a wall,” says Bob Orth But Orth is one of 10 residents of Collaroy who have each paid $300,000 to do just that Construction began in December on a seven-metre-high sheer concrete structure below the residents’ properties which overlook a beach that has become notorious for dramatic erosion every time there is a big storm When the wall is complete it will snake its way 1.3km up the coast to South Narrabeen consisting of a vertical concrete wall in parts and a revetment – a sloping rock structure engineered to absorb wave energy – in others Over its projected 60-year lifespan it will hold back the tides to protect 49 properties 1:56The 1.3km wall dividing a Sydney beach community - videoResidents, including Orth, will cover 80% of the cost, with the rest paid for by the New South Wales government and the Northern Beaches council “We didn’t want to put up $300,000,” Orth says “But we had to build a wall and we’ve done it strictly by the book.” In the five years since, during which two further storms have hit the beach the residents along the worst-hit strip have organised by forming a corporation contracting Horton Coastal Engineering to design a wall and campaigning successfully for council approval we’d be ripped into with the next storm,” Orth says “I haven’t got a doubt in the world [that it will work] The owners are very happy with the solution.” Brendan Donohoe from Surfrider Foundation is a local whose organisation has been fighting against the construction of a seawall for three decades He says that by building the vertical wall the council is sacrificing the beach to protect private property “The council was honestly shocked we weren’t delighted We were honestly astounded at what they’ve done,” Donohoe says changes to the physical environment – such as building on dunes or on the beach itself – can interrupt natural processes by which sand moves around causing it to disappear from some areas while building up in others Donohoe fears the sand directly in front of the wall will be washed away in the next storm and without a renourishment program to artificially replace it that section of beach will disappear for longer periods “Ultimately these properties are probably unprotectable,” he says “Our beach is the thing we should be trying to insure – not in the monetary sense but in the sense of its continued existence.” Tom Kirsop and Brendan Donohoe oppose the seawall ‘Our beach is the thing we should be trying to insure,’ Donohoe says Photograph: Carly Earl/The GuardianAngus Gordon a coastal engineer and former general manager of Pittwater council says a vertical wall is a “brutal engineering solution” to a problem that would have been better addressed by a rock revetment building an artificial cliff face in front of the beach is not fitting in with the environment,” Gordon says the chief executive of Northern Beaches council saying the design of the wall was reviewed by a Danish coastal engineer the Manly Hydraulics Laboratory and a team from the University of New South Wales He says the vertical wall has a smaller footprint on that section of beach than a rock revetment would have had two-thirds of the structure will be buried “most of the time” “Council’s priority has always been to support residents to protect their properties as long as there is no negative impact on the beach,” Brownlee says and that faced by coastal areas around Australia is to manage the impact of planning decisions made over a century ago.” Collaroy and Narrabeen certainly aren’t the only Australian communities facing competing demands as climate change increasingly drives coastal erosion In Western Australia, storms lashed Fremantle’s Port beach in 2019, leaving buildings on the edge of collapse, while Post Office Rock in Beachport, South Australia is recognised as one of Australia’s fastest eroding beaches Some 135 metres of land has been lost since 1946 along that stretch of South Australian coastline with the ocean expected to punch through the dunes in the next decade and reclaim the Pool of Siloam Photograph: Courtesy of Northern Beaches Council Library Local StudiesMost of the time this erosion occurs in remote places but increasingly it is affecting areas of high development too Some local councils, such as Fremantle in WA, have adopted policies of “managed retreat” but often they have not been coupled with buy-back schemes to remove vulnerable houses without financially crippling the owners State governments have been reluctant to step in leading many property owners to call for the construction of seawalls to defend homes and businesses While these structures may temporarily stem the advancing ocean they sacrifice the beach for short-term security Since 1901 the world’s oceans have risen 20cm on average The reasons are complex and range from epochal shifts in tectonic plates that cause one region to rise and another to fall while human activity can make an area more flood-prone The Australian coastline has been relatively stable, according to Robbi Bishop-Taylor of Geoscience Australia, who helped build a tool that uses satellite data taken since the 1980s to map changes in the coast Email: sign up for our daily morning and afternoon email newsletters App: download our free app and never miss the biggest stories Social: follow us on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter Podcast: listen to our daily episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or search "Full Story" in your favourite app Photograph: Tim Robberts/Stone RFWas this helpful?Thank you for your feedback.He says just 21% of Australian coastlines have experienced erosion in the past three decades “The reason for this is often a lot more complicated than pure erosion or growth,” Bishop-Taylor says Even in areas where change has been dramatic erosion in one area can be offset by gains in others Collaroy beach before and after storm damage in June 2016. Photograph: The GuardianBishop-Taylor says Point Stuart, a marshy area near Darwin, has lost roughly 500 metres over three decades, but this erosion was balanced by growth in the Gulf of Carpentaria, where the land is growing at a rate of 10 metres a year. However, climate change is increasing the rate of sea level rise. Read moreAccording to the IPCC6 report published in August those born in 1971 have watched the world’s oceans rise at a rate of 1.9mm a year from Monash University’s school of earth atmosphere and environment but as a general rule 1cm of sea level rise causes a one metre retreat of the coastline on beaches “The relationship is not one-to-one because the beach is on a slope,” Reef says This process is exacerbated as climate change disrupts normal wind patterns changing how much energy can whip up waves “We keep thinking about climate as something that will happen “We’re already seeing impact and we’re already paying for it – but we’ll see a lot more of it because sea levels are rising.” A kiddies B-Line bus at Griffith Park Playground Santa has come early this year for the kids of Collaroy with the renewal of Griffith Park Playground in Collaroy just in time for the school holidays The play space re-opened this week featuring a larger fully fenced play area and a new shade covering to help beat the summer heat Little explorers will love driving the mini B-Line Bus play piece as they watch the real buses drive by on Pittwater Road Younger children will also enjoy the new play structure that includes platforms climbing elements and a double slide.  As they get bigger and more adventurous they can progress to challenge their climbing skills on the rope climbing cube.  The playground also features three swings including a basket swing high back toddler swing and standard swing.  Griffith Park is one of the 217 public playgrounds we manage on the Northern Beaches Construction on the project began in October 2023 before it was completed this week.  67 Edgecliffe Boulevard in Collaroy Plateau is up for sale A northern beaches home with epic views stretching all the way to the Central Coast has hit the market again The Eagle’s Nest in Collaroy Plateau has one of the coolest pools you can find stretching out and taking advantage of the stunning district views The five-bedroom home has open plan living and dining areas with links to the outside entertaining area through retracting glass MORE: How you could get a $550k unit for free Where Sydney’s four last ‘cheap suburbs’ are The mineral lap pool isn’t the only drawcard outdoors with a kitchen and outdoor barbecue and a Wi-Fi Sonos system It was listed a year ago with a $10m price guide but has hit the market now at $8.8m through Christene O’Sullivan of McGrath “The indoor/outdoor flow with amazing view and aspect is fantastic,” she said beauty and simplicity of the build is amazing You feel like you are perched on top of the world with those views.” There is plenty of interest from around Sydney “We have a couple of people looking at it at the moment but no one is ready to quite commit,” she added The private getaway is designed by local architect Ian Bennett with the top level of the house angled north and clad in copper sophisticated CBUS technology including motorised shutters and even two laundries One of the biggest drawcards is that it stands alone in a prime position with no neighbours and has council land surrounding it Matty Johns loves Collaroy Basin so much he sold and bought again in the exclusive pocket Some of the biggest names in both rugby union and rugby league are also neighbours living within metres of each other beside a coveted Sydney beach – and here is your chance to join them Greg ‘Brandy’ Alexander and former Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen all live in Collaroy Beach with most of them on the same block in the up-market Collaroy Basin next to Fisherman’s Beach Collaroy Basin next to Long Reef golf course and at the southern end of the beach However the scrum is about to be broken up with the sale of a $6.6 million-plus house in Beach Rd owned by former NRL CEO Neil Whittaker The ex-Balmain player bought into the Basin back in 2008 and has seen the handful of streets at the southern end of the beach climb in value and become one of the northern beach’s most exclusive spots The four-bedroom architect-designed house is just footsteps from both Collaroy and Fisherman’s Beach Gorgeous indoor/outdoor living plus the pool double-level ceilings and luxury outdoor entertaining zones Expressions of interest for this striking home on almost 700sqm of land are $6.6 million to $7 million and the property is being marketed by Doyle Spillane The house is remarkably similar to another property also in Beach Rd which was owned by media personality and former player Matty Johns and wife Trish The couple so love the Basin that having sold in Beach Rd last year they bought again in the same area but a little closer to the water The outdoor fireplace and entertaining area where Matty loved to read At the time of selling Mr Johns said the caring community of the Basin has surpassed their expectation He said he had heard the area was supportive but he and his wife were so impressed and they had wanted to stay in the area “Everyone knows each other and knows each other’s children and pets It allowed our boys so much freedom and I don’t think anyone would willingly leave the Basin,” Trish Johns said last year Former Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen has lived in the Basin since the mid 1980s Beach Rd is also the home of successful Wallabies coach who was honoured with an Order of Australia and inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame He retired from coaching in 2001 having led the Wallabies to World Cup glory in 1999 and a series win over the British and Irish Lions in 2001 Former Penrith player Greg Alexander has lived in Collaroy Basin since 2013 Around the corner from Beach Rd lives Dally M medal winner Greg ‘Brandy’ Alexander the former Panthers halfback who retired from the game in 1999 and who is now a television host with Foxtel Sea Eagles head coach Des Hasler is also a resident coach of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and former player for both for the Sea Eagles and the Penrith Panthers lives just outside the Basin but still on the Collaroy beachfront and he and his wife have been fixtures in the area for some years The record for the Collaroy Basin pocket is $8.25 million for an oceanfront home on Beach Rd which traded in 2018 Peter Thomson has worked at the shop since the early days – first as a part-timer, then after buying the business 30 years ago. The suburb’s stunning beaches, including Collaroy and Long Reef, have always been a huge drawcard. The biggest change over the years, according to Thomson, is who lives there. “There are a lot more families now,” he says. “They’ve bought properties. There are less rentals and more permanent people in the area.” Collaroy Beach is part of a 3.4-kilometre sweep of white sand, joining Narrabeen Beach to the north. Heading south, a path hugs the coastline around Long Reef Golf Club and the headland to Long Reef Beach, offering spectacular views from lookouts along the way. Collaroy was named after a paddle steamer than ran aground in 1881. The ship became a tourist attraction for Sydneysiders in the three years it remained stranded. It was eventually refloated, only to come a cropper off the Californian coast a few years later. David Bain, an agent at Upstate, says the area offers a relaxed lifestyle within reach of the Sydney CBD, 22 kilometres away. “It’s a really laid-back, friendly community,” Bain says. “There’s a good mix of professions. It’s close enough to the city for people who do need to commute but it’s also got that northern-beaches lifestyle.” Most of the shops and businesses, including the dashing art-deco United Cinemas Collaroy, are concentrated along Pittwater Road, near the beach. The relentlessly scenic Collaroy Plateau, to the west, has undergone a facelift over the past 20 years as many of the older-style homes have been knocked down or renovated. Collaroy Plateau, which tends to be more affordable than its beachside stablemate, has its own shopping village on Veterans Parade. “A lot of local builders live up there,” Bain says. “There are probably more new than old houses there now.” The neighbourhood offers a choice of public and private primary schools. For high school, the nearest options are the non-denominational Christian school Pittwater House, which caters to students from preschool to Year 12, and Northern Beaches Secondary College’s Cromer Campus. Properties range from early-1900s cottages and bungalows to mid-century homes, apartments built in the 1970s and early 2000s and newer builds. By bus, it takes about 50 minutes to reach the Sydney CBD. The median house price in Collaroy Plateau surged 17.3 per cent to $1.9 million last year, after a dip in 2019. In Collaroy, the median house price also rebounded strongly last year to $2.574 million, not quite reaching the all-time high of $2.895 million set in 2018. Across the road from the beach, this smart one-bedder ticks a whole lot of boxes for investors and first-home buyers alike. There are 65 square metres on title, including an internal laundry and an undercover terrace. A communal courtyard provides another outdoor option. Clissold Cottage is a heritage-listed charmer set on a 700-square-metre block near the beach and golf club. The home includes a huge top-floor parents retreat, original hardwood floors and a vintage cooker, as well as a modern stove and oven. 2 Baths2 ParkingView listing Stone Real Estate Mona Vale‘s Trent McKay is taking expressions of interest with a guide of $5.5 million-$6 million. Eagle’s Nest on Collaroy Plateau has a $10 million asking price An amazing new house has come to market in a sleepy northern beaches suburb that is set to double the record in one go Collaroy Plateau is not a beach suburb and the median house price is $1.69 million. However Eagle’s Nest at 67 Edgecliff Boulevard has come to market with a massive $10 million asking price The designer tri-level house has north-easterly views up and down the coast and great privacy said the striking house has been watched keenly by locals as it was being built and it is the best in class for the region this really is an iconic and one-off offering due to its unique features including its architecture including being a stand-alone property with no neighbours,” she said Vast stackable walls of glass looking out to sea three-bathroom property has been designed by local architect Ian Bennett “A lot of locals walking by as it was built were sceptical about the house but once we added the vertical black blades that can be opened and shut for privacy and sun they understood,” he said The top level of the house has been angled due north to make the most of the jaw-dropping views and this level has been clad in copper along with the oversized double garage The top floor is clad in copper with framed views over Narrabeen lagoon The garage is also clad in copper and note the vertical black blades angled for light and privacy Light wells over the swimming pool and inside bring in sunshine and the main living level has walls of glass towards the sea where the bedrooms are situated the views are framed more and the rooms are more intimate lounge and dining areas have doors that slide into cavities opening up the whole area to the entertainment area built-in barbecue with commercial grade beer on tap But the top feature of this property is the fact is stands alone in a prime position with no neighbours and council land on its boundary “Privacy is one of the key features of Eagle’s Nest provided both through the sophisticated design and uniqueness of the site location it wraps around you to provide a peaceful luxury retreat,” Ms Cullen said Already there has been a strong response to the property and the agents are undertaking a global campaign to capture expats living overseas Expressions of interest close on Wednesday The second skylight well and the amazing view Eagle’s Nest in the foreground with the peninsula behind The northern beaches is no stranger to $10 million house prices but not in Collaroy Plateau which has a median price below the northern beaches median The prestige sales of $10 million and more are usually reserved for oceanfront spots in Palm Beach or in Manly’s Bower St looking north over the ocean The record for Collaroy Plateau is $5.35 million for 54 Edgecliff Boulevard In fact the ridge line street of Edgecliff Boulevard which follows the topography and captures expansive views has recorded the four top sales in the suburb Between 2011 and July 2019 four prestige houses in Edgecliff Boulevard have traded for between $3.75 million and $5.35 million But a sale in double digits is next level selling for the Plateau which is known for its tight family community playing fields and grid-like street layout The exclusive enclave of Collaroy Basin where $20m trophy homes are predicted Collaroy is a laid-back northern beaches suburb with a quirky cinema a Justin Hemmes watering hole and an exclusive beachside pocket where house prices have been jumping Prominent real estate agent Brendan Pomponio predicts a $20 million trophy home sale for the Basin is on the horizon This is a big call considering the median house price for Collaroy a figure that has only crept forward 1 per cent in 12 months However there is an enclave right beside the ocean Oil and gas millionaire Russell Staley paid $15.5 million for a double block on the beach and is now selling his cutting edge Peter Stutchbury-designed home in Beach Rd for a similar figure Mr Staley has said there is nowhere else in Sydney he would want to live And it seems other big names agree with him Football commentator Matty Johns and his wife Trish are believed to be looking for a property to renovate in Collaroy Basin and are also selling their finished project Matty and Trish Johns are now selling in Collaroy Basin who was behind much of the dancing magic at the Sydney 2000 Olympics opening and closing ceremonies lives in Collaroy Basin Other celebrities who live in Collaroy include television presenter Johanna Griggs and her family Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler and his wife and radio host Wendy Harmer and her husband and teenage children the beachside enclave of the Basin had an average sales price of $4.634 million last year but has already seen that average jump almost ten per cent this year to a figure of $5,062,500 Late last month 7 Florence Ave sold for $7.1 million and 2 Florence Ave sold for $7.5 million “This coupled with strong buyer interest on 25 and 25a Beach Rd in the mid-to-high $7 million proves the Basin is one of Sydney’s safest prestige real estate markets,” Mr Pomponio said A beach Rd property where there is strong interest in the mid-to-high $7 million range Two beachfront homes at 9 Florence Ave have buyer interest beyond $6 million and expressions of interest close for them later this month Meanwhile a four-year old beachfront house in Ocean Grove is expected to come to market soon and that sold for $4.44 million six years ago “With plans afoot for the construction of two homes with a predicted build cost of $10 million plus homes in front row positions it is no surprise the prestige market within the Basin continues to out perform the northern beaches prestige market It is now recognised as one of Sydney’s most exclusive and tightly held pockets It is fair to say $20 million-plus trophy homes are on the horizon for the Collaroy Basin,” he said The sleepy suburb of Collaroy Plateau has a new suburb record and it’s north of $10m A bespoke architectural home at 63 Edgecliffe Boulevard with 270-degree views three levels of accommodation and a 842sqm gated block has sold to a local family beating off downsizers from the Eastern Suburbs who were also wanting the striking full brick home The sale eclipses last year’s suburb record sale of $8.725m for Eagles Nest two doors down at 67 Edgecliffe Boulevard which doubled the previous record for Collaroy Plateau in one fell swoop Highlights of both homes, including the pool and its sweeping views – The Eagles Nest pool featured on the recent list of Australia’s best 100 pools said while people loved the view and the finish of the five-bedroom home at number 63 buyers at that price point also wanted a lift and that was becoming an expectation for prestige homes Buddy Franklin’s luxury $5.5m pad for sale Secrets of Sydney’s best 50 homes gives longevity to the home for owners and they are not as expensive as they were they cost around $60,000 for a lift serving three storeys,” he said several of the groups looking at 63 Edgecliffe Boulevard valued a lift allowing them to enjoy views from all levels without relying on stairs The luxury home came to market in October and sold in three weeks it had a guide of $9m and traded for more than $10m The pool was voted one of Australia’s best “The market north of $7m is strong while the sub $7m market is weaker and has flattened,” Joshua said The median house sale in Collaroy Plateau is $2,555,000 up 7.8 per cent in 12 months and based on 57 house sales MORE: Dominatrix sells AC/DC, sex chapel for $6m Jana Pittman scores new $4m Hills home Superstar designer’s gorgeous new $2.85m highlands cottage Construction of a long-awaited sea wall to protect dozens of homes on Sydney’s northern beaches from major storms has begun at an average cost of $282,000 per resident The project stretches 1.3 kilometres from Collaroy up to South Narrabeen It will eventually also protect the arterial Pittwater Road and its gas and communications lines Construction of the sea wall to protect homes at Collaroy The coastal strip was pummelled during a massive storm in 2016 that damaged homes and pulled a swimming pool into the ocean Two big storms further eroded the sand dune in July 2020 The sea wall is forecast to cost $24.85 million the protection of private property totals $17.3 million 80 per cent of which will be covered by land-holders with the NSW government and Northern Beaches Council each funding 10 per cent of private works The remaining $7.55 million is public contributions to protect public assets A Northern Beaches Council spokesman told the Herald on Wednesday that a small number of owners “have raised funding as an issue for their works” Almost 400 metres of the public and private parts of the wall have already been completed or are under way.Credit: James Brickwood Council is meeting with these residents and their neighbours to see construction progress “as needed and in a co-ordinated way” Neighbouring owners who live between each pocket of public land are required to work in groups The council said 40 per cent of properties are yet to submit a development application “We are still not 100 per cent of the way through the complexities,” Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan told the Herald “The issue of what happens when a resident can’t or is unwilling to be involved remains vexed and what we are still trying to work through.” Council chief executive officer Ray Brownlee said it had been a “long and arduous process” “I am pleased to see construction for the first collection of residents who have been able to work together to get their portion under way with further residents due to start in the coming months,” he said Resident Bob Orth is within that first group of 10 properties collectively paying roughly $3 million to build a 130m stretch of sea wall entirely on private land between Stuart and Wetherill streets Each of the stakeholders signed a commitment to fund the project before work commenced Residents Bob Orth and Jo Hoatson at the site He said while the council and the NSW government had agreed to each pay 10 per cent of construction costs including reports and legally establishing a company “They are excluded from the 20 per cent contribution,” he said “We are pushing to get that included because you couldn’t get the wall without it.” Northern Beaches mayor Michael Regan previously said the sea wall was a “wicked problem” We all want to stay here but if you walk away you’ve got a place with a collapsed beachfront you’re not going to sell it for much,” he said “You’re better to stick it out and fix it and develop something that’s secure.” UNSW coastal researcher Dr Mitchell Harley said in terms of preventing erosion to houses behind the sea wall he had “faith that it’s going to be effective” “It’s to provide a way to dissipate the wave energy that breaks at the shore along the beach and could potentially cause erosion in extreme storm events,” he said Dr Harley said it is a “stopgap solution” to legacy issues made more than a century ago such as in Collaroy where houses were built “inappropriately” close to the coast “I certainly don’t like seeing sea walls built in natural settings,” he said “We should be learning from our past mistakes and being proactive and not building in these zones which are known to naturally fluctuate particularly in light of climate change and sea levels rising.” Almost 400 metres of wall has been completed or is under construction Public works have finished at Collaroy car park and additional works to the north of Wetherill St are expected to begin in March The mayor, who has previously described the Collaroy-Narrabeen project as a “wicked problem” spanning 40 years said it has “broken new ground” and will set a precedent for other areas facing similar coastal challenges such as Wamberal on the NSW Central Coast will make it easier for others impacted by coastal issues in other parts of the state to protect their homes in future,” Mr Regan said Our Morning Edition newsletter is a curated guide to the most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here This story has been updated to clarify the breakdown of public and private funding of the seawall Construction of a long-awaited sea wall to protect dozens of homes on Sydney\\u2019s northern beaches from major storms has begun The coastal strip was pummelled that damaged homes and pulled a swimming pool into the ocean A Northern Beaches Council spokesman told the Herald on Wednesday that a small number of owners \\u201Chave raised funding as an issue for their works\\u201D Council is meeting with these residents and their neighbours to see construction progress \\u201Cas needed and in a co-ordinated way\\u201D \\u201CWe are still not 100 per cent of the way through the complexities,\\u201D Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan told the Herald \\u201CThe issue of what happens when a resident can\\u2019t or is unwilling to be involved remains vexed and what we are still trying to work through.\\u201D Council chief executive officer Ray Brownlee said it had been a \\u201Clong and arduous process\\u201D \\u201CI am pleased to see construction for the first collection of residents who have been able to work together to get their portion under way with further residents due to start in the coming months,\\u201D he said \\u201CThey are excluded from the 20 per cent contribution,\\u201D he said \\u201CWe are pushing to get that included because you couldn\\u2019t get the wall without it.\\u201D \\u201CIt\\u2019s a sensational place to live you\\u2019ve got a place with a collapsed beachfront you\\u2019re not going to sell it for much,\\u201D he said \\u201CYou\\u2019re better to stick it out and fix it and develop something that\\u2019s secure.\\u201D he had \\u201Cfaith that it\\u2019s going to be effective\\u201D \\u201CIt\\u2019s to provide a way to dissipate the wave energy that breaks at the shore along the beach and could potentially cause erosion in extreme storm events,\\u201D he said Dr Harley said it is a \\u201Cstopgap solution\\u201D to legacy issues made more than a century ago such as in Collaroy where houses were built \\u201Cinappropriately\\u201D close to the coast \\u201CI certainly don\\u2019t like seeing sea walls built in natural settings,\\u201D he said \\u201CWe should be learning from our past mistakes and being proactive and not building in these zones which are known to naturally fluctuate particularly in light of climate change and sea levels rising.\\u201D who has previously as a \\u201Cwicked problem\\u201D spanning 40 years said it has \\u201Cbroken new ground\\u201D and will set a precedent for other areas facing similar coastal challenges such as Wamberal on the NSW Central Coast will make it easier for others impacted by coastal issues in other parts of the state to protect their homes in future,\\u201D Mr Regan said Our Morning Edition newsletter is a curated guide to the most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here This story has been updated to clarify the breakdown of public and private funding of the seawall.\\u00A0 A unique and rare architectural masterpiece on Sydney’s northern beaches with “awe-inspiring” views has hit the market for the first time with a price guide of $12m Listed as “one of Collaroy’s most inspiring homes”, the property located at 24 Lancaster Cres is ideal for taking in both the sunrise and sunset – or watching storms roll in over the coast line The property was completed three years ago with the unique design resembling four rectangles twisted on top of each other each facing a different angle to take advantage of the sweeping ocean horizon The Collaroy home is up for grabs with a $12m price guide 24 Lancaster Crescent in Collaroy sits elevated to take in the incredible views MORE: Underground home with turf roof has hidden surprise always allowing for somewhere to retreat no matter the time of day The owner revealed that before the home was constructed many dismissed the block as too difficult to build on due to it’s shape and the amount of excavation needed the more unusual the shape of the block the more unusual the shape of the house can be,” the owner This is the first time the property has hit the market since it has been completed The design resembles different rectangles being twisted on top of each other The living and space on the first level of the home One of the three balconies with views of the ocean have been tailored to make up the exterior of the residence MORE: Terrifying reality of looming rate hike 33-year-old worth $10m shares top tip to retire rich ocean views can be enjoyed from the kitchen large balconies – even from the bed of the main bedroom The glass units are double glazed with a coating that reflects the sun and heat to keep the temperature of the home regulated The top floor of the four-level home features a study and master suite which has it’s own balcony On the ground level there are three bedrooms allowing for flexibility and space for families as well as a guest bedroom on the basement level Natural modern finishes are used to create the contemporary design concrete and a premium corian kitchen countertop that is stain proof unlike marble or other Tailored individual hand cut stone from the excavation of the block has been repurposed to make up the 8m kitchen islands design as well as the fireplace The bespoke kitchen features Miele appliances two dishwashers and a zip boiling water tap so no need for a kettle for cups of tea or coffee The 8m island with unique hand carved stone excavated from the property Listing agent Joshua Perry from Belle Property Manly said the property had already attracted a lot of interest from prospective buyers within only a few days of it being on the market “We are seeing a lot of buyers from the East and North Shore we’ve had some interest from international buyers A rumpus room with a wet bar extends outside to the undercover alfresco dining area and swimming pool ideal for entertaining guests fully equipped media room and lift access from the garage The six car garage is ideal for car enthusiasts which has previously hosted two 21st birthday parties with the disco ball still hanging there to prove it Party space or six car garage – you decide The property is available to see via private appointments with Joshua Perry from Belle Property Manly MORE: ‘Stunning’ home comes with unlimited blueberry supply Inside epic $10m southwest Sydney mansion Photo: Ian Bird Photography.Many Northern Beaches residents remain aghast at the construction of a sea wall protruding seven metres from ground level on Collaroy Beach with ongoing environmental and safety concerns Although the wall was constructed in the hope of protecting private and public assets from intense weather conditions many feel the longstanding issue of coastal erosion will not be addressed with these measures and could pose further threat Surfrider Foundation Northern Beaches president Brendan Donohoe said coastal protection works are vital but the solution undertaken by local council was an "abomination" and would "ruin the beach" "This is very much slanted towards private landholders the beach has been insulted and the public have been insulted in the process," Mr Donohoe said READ ALSO: Fight to save coastal strip divides community "For this type of retrograde engineered project to be taking place in one of the wealthiest areas in Australia is just disgraceful Local government is not equipped to deal with this hard issue University of Sydney coastal geomorphologist Professor Andy Short agrees with this viewpoint "The outcome was a slap in the face for public beach amenity," Professor Short said "It is the worst possible structure that could be built for a popular public beach it should have been sloping to lessen the impact." Many beachgoers believe public amenity has been compromised in order to protect a handful of private properties Photo: Ian Bird PhotographyProfessor Short explained the waves reflect straight off the wall resulting in more rapid and greater erosion "Vertical sea walls on public beaches went out more than 100 years ago Private property has always been on the beach there Rising sea levels will continue to worsen the issue who said the wall will become increasingly exposed READ ALSO: Five years after the storm that stole the beach Other beaches around the country have similar problems and Professor Short believes the matter is a national issue along with a set of guidelines and federal funding there should be joint coordinated action," he said "We will either have no beach at all or will require massive sand nourishment." A Northern Beaches Council spokesperson said there were ongoing issues for the state government to address relating to the protection of private property up and down the NSW coastline legislation needs to change to deal with instances where private landholders are unable to fund the cost of protecting their properties or where council may want to construct the works in the public interest and recover the cost from those that benefit most," the spokesperson said project management of the construction at Collaroy is under question and the marine environment is suffering collateral damage "After a recent couple of days of six to eight foot swell a good deal of the protective bund bordering the construction had washed into the sea including metres of plastic geo-textile material," Mr Donohoe said fill and road base washed back into the shallows in the surf which may be hazardous to unsuspecting swimmers View +3 PhotosThere are concerns the sea wall project is causing further damage to the coastal environment with debris from the construction site impacting the public beach Photos: Ian Bird PhotographyNorthern Beaches CEO Ray Brownlee said it was unfortunate the large swells created by Cyclone Seth caused the protective bund to breach "We are working closely with contractors to remove debris and improve management at this site," Mr Brownlee said "There is a significant amount of rock which has been on this public beach for some 40 years which will be removed as part of the sea wall project to improve safety and public access." Professor Short and Mr Donohoe both believe sand nourishment would have been a more productive solution which was first proposed in 1993 to widen the beach "Nothing much has happened in that sphere despite lobbying for many years there is a flurry of activity and then nothing happens," Mr Donohoe said The best option according to Professor Short would be to make the area a public reserve with financial support from state and federal governments "If properties were bought back at market value and a public reserve established the hazard zone of the last 120 years would no longer be an issue," he said The three and a half kilometre stretch of beach from North Narrabeen to Collaroy is steeped in the history of modern surfing "These are extraordinary landscapes which as a community we have spent millions on to protect We are furious about having these blocks of non-ambulatory beach Private property owners have spent large sums of money on the project and one of the biggest complaints locals have about the "brutalist" construction is a lack of consultation "We could have easily had different outcomes it would have saved them a lot of money and provided us all with a better beach," Mr Donohoe said they were offered a solution and they aren't experts But they are now regarded by many as pariahs." READ ALSO: Collaroy sea wall: Work should stop immediately, objectors say The president of Surfrider Foundation Northern Beaches said the group met over 60 times between the last consultation about any sea wall and the completed section of vertical design "The community was seemingly shut out of the process," he said "Our immediate goal is to freeze the extension of any vertical wall council said the community had provided feedback as part of the consultation process for the DA and all submissions would be considered as part of the assessment process The landscape has been greatly altered since the sea wall was constructed on the public beach Photo: Ian Bird PhotographyDuring periods of erosion stretches of beach will be impassable and attempting to navigate the coastline with its landscape drastically changed could be dangerous "Meanwhile the wall protects virtually every square inch of private yards I take exception to that while we are losing metres and metres of beach after every storm," Mr Donohoe said "I am not suggesting these properties shouldn't be defended the current sections of wall are expected to be completed within the next three months the timeline is set by the private property owners," the spokesperson said "Another approved section of the wall is expected to commence in the first half of 2022 and another private section is currently being assessed and will go to the independent planning panel for final determination." Send a letter to the editor at: editor@northernbeachesreview.com.au Our journalists work hard to provide local This is how you can access our trusted content: Regional journalist covering the Far South Coast of NSW Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy. The local council has approved plans to build a seawall along the damaged area Link copiedShareShare articleEngineers are waiting for houses along Sydney's Collaroy beach to have damaged sections demolished so work can begin to stop further coastal erosion Ten homes between Ramsay and Stuart streets were impacted during the destructive weather that hit the east coast of Australia last week Collaroy was one of the hardest hit areas of Sydney where beachfront houses were damaged by waves of up to eight metres who is employed by the Northern Beaches Council said residents had to have debris cleared before work could begin "Houses still have remnants of balconies hanging off them," Mr Gordon said Geobags or giant sandbags are the short-term solution to temporarily hold the escarpment from deteriorating further "The council are purchasing geobags of sand but we can't put it in till the site is safe," Mr Gordon said He said engineers were also working to build an access ramp to the beach from Ramsay Street Collaroy resident Tony Cagorski hopes to clear his broken glass balcony this week before another storm hits who had 20 metres of his backyard washed away in the storm said insurance builders were going to clear his overhanging balcony today "We've been staying at my daughter's place and insurance gave us some money to stay in Collaroy," he said "Technically we're not allowed to go inside .. I had an insurance assessor here yesterday so he had to get access to the house "Our insurer said they will cover the damage to the house but they won't cover the back of the house." Mr Cagorski said the residents were facing a "delicate situation" with another east coast low expected to form over parts of Queensland and New South Wales this weekend Engineers survey the "unapproved seawalls" that collapsed during the severe storm in Collaroy Mr Gordon said residents should be alert but cautioned against panicking "I don't believe it will be possible to get protection together in the time available," he said "But it all depends where the next storm forms and how intense it is "Height of the tides during the peak of the storm is a real key to how much damage is done." The local council has approved coastal management plans to build a seawall along the damaged area. Mr Gordon said a rock seawall, which tends to "progressively fail", would be the best option as opposed to a vertical concrete seawall which has a "catastrophic collapse mode". "Rock is the most adaptive for a sea wall," he said. "And if there are climate change issues at a later time, a rubble mound or revetment is a more adaptable structure." In a major storm the natural sand dunes are washed offshore but wind would later bring the sand back and rebuild the dune. Once a sea wall is erected, Mr Gordon says, that process is "cut off" — which creates more erosion on the beach. Mr Gordon said if the seawall was built it would be necessary to offset further erosion with "beach nourishment". A dredging ship would be required to vacuum up sand offshore or from a nearby area that has similar sand, which would then be pumped onto Collaroy beach. "These vessels are very expensive," Mr Gordon said. "The best way to do beach nourishment is to look at beaches along the NSW coast that require it, and then put a contract out for a vessel for a period of time. "It may need to be repeated every 10 years, but not every year." A dredging vessel like this one in the Netherlands would pump extra sand on to the beach. (Koen van Weel: Reuters) Former Pittwater mayor David James, who was a chief engineer with a Dutch company that dredged Palm Island in the Red Sea, said there had been previous discussions about taking sand from Narrabeen Lagoon. He said the vessels could scoop sand up to 100 metres below the seafloor and throw it on the beach from 80 metres away. Mr Cagorski said the seawall couldn't come soon enough. "If we don't get this seawall ... it's just going to chew away the sand from under our house and the water will get closer to Pittwater Road," he said. Disasters, Accidents and Emergency Incidents Mar 24, 2024 | , A woman was resuscitated after being found unresponsive at Collaroy Beach rock pool Just after 8.15pm yesterday evening (Saturday emergency services responded to a report of a woman found lying face down and not breathing next to the rock pool at Collaroy Beach Concerned bystanders called Triple Zero (000) and commenced CPR on the woman in her 40s who was reported to be wet and gasping for air The bystanders said the woman appeared to stop breathing and they could not find a pulse As emergency services responded to the scene it is understood the GoodSAM Responder App had alerted a first aid trained member of the public who was registered with their system As the GoodSAM responder took over CPR efforts of the bystanders Intensive Care Paramedics arrived in the beach car park The GoodSAM responder continued CPR while paramedics prepared life-saving resuscitation equipment from their vehicle NSW Ambulance Inspector Mark Whittaker was also called in to assist with the woman’s care Paramedics stabilised the now semiconscious woman’s breathing With the assistance of officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command and Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters from Narrabeen and Dee Why Stations loaded into a NSW Ambulance and taken to Northern Beaches Hospital in a serious but stable condition just before 9.00pm