Batemans Bay coastal protection works
Project: Protecting Eurobodalla’s northern beaches and low-lying areas from coastal erosion and inundation.
Timeframe: 2023 until 2027
Status: Preparing
Cost and funding:
- $6 million, National Emergency Management Agency, Disaster Ready Fund, for Caseys Beach
- $5 million, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, to be shared between Long Beach, Surfside and North Batemans Bay
- $1 million, Council contribution
- Additional funds will be required for construction work.
Page last updated: November 2024
Project details
We are working to:
- Investigate, design, and build long-term solutions at four priority sites:
- Bay Road, Long Beach
- McLeods Beach, Surfside
- Wharf Road, North Batemans Bay
- Caseys Beach, Batehaven
Benefits to the community:
- greater protection for community infrastructure
- continued access along roads during coastal storm conditions
- maintained access to beaches and private properties
- enhanced visual appeal.
Background and purpose
With rising sea levels and increasing severe weather events, much of our low-lying coastline is vulnerable to erosion and inundation. The Eurobodalla Open Coast Coastal Management Program (CMP) is our comprehensive guide for long-term coastline management.
The CMP details around 140 actions to mitigate the impacts of coastal hazards along 110 kilometres of coastline. Council is responsible for implementing these actions to protect community infrastructure. Private property owners can defend their own property and, just like Council, must obtain relevant approvals for protection works.
Council does not have the resources to deliver all the actions identified in the CMP. Therefore, we are focusing on high priority actions, starting with design and investigation work. Additional resources will likely be needed to build the coastal protection infrastructure, and we will continue to apply for grants as opportunities become available.
Each of our current priorities involves detailed investigations, environmental and heritage assessments, surveys and design work, cost-benefit analyses, planning, and community engagement. We also need various approvals from multiple NSW Government agencies. It’s time-consuming and complex work, with NSW Public Works Advisory assisting as the project management consultant.
Keep reading to learn about the priority areas, our plans, and the progress we've made so far.
East coast lows have caused significant erosion of the Long Beach coastline, exposing the edge of Bay Road and leaving it vulnerable to collapse. The roots of the large Norfolk pines have also been exposed.
As Bay Road is critical for vehicle access to beachside properties, we have placed large geo-textile sandbags along the foreshore to provide temporary protection until a long-term solution is implemented.
Protecting Bay Road is identified as a priority in the CMP, proposing a permanent structure such as a low-lying revetment along the foreshore. We are now focusing on the design for a sloped rock revetment.
In keeping with community feedback, our aim is to provide a structure that allows continued beach access, is low-lying and maintains the natural character of the foreshore, and protects both the beach’s amenity and the road.
Updates
2024
- Our consultant has prepared plans for the sloped rock revetment. We invited the community to an information session on 10 December to see images and diagrams of the planned work.
- With information provided by the consultant, we decided the sloped rock revetment was the most suitable solution to provide protection.
- In July we received some great input from the Long Beach community about how we can best manage coastal erosion in the long term. Our team started working with the consultant to review all the feedback and find the most suitable solution.
- In June Worley Consulting developed three potential long-term solutions for managing the coastal erosion at Bay Road. We invited the community to a drop-in session at the Long Beach RFS shed to find out about each of the options and to provide feedback.
- In March we awarded the tender to Worley Consulting to design the measures to protect the eastern end of Bay Road from severe coastal storm events.
2023
- In July we created a geotextile sandbag structure to protect Bay Road and the foreshore until we can provide a long-term solution. To find out more about the emergency work visit Long Beach coastal erosion control
Due to the natural topography, the low-lying areas at the western end of Surfside, sometimes referred to as McLeods Beach or Dog Beach, are at risk of inundation during coastal storm events.
The CMP proposes the construction of a levee - a raised embankment - to reduce the volume of seawater reaching these low-lying areas during large coastal storms. We are currently investigating and designing the most suitable option for this levee to protect public infrastructure and improve access along the beach. As noted in the CMP, the levee will be designed with the capacity to increase its height and length to accommodate rising sea levels.
The CMP also identifies beach nourishment using sand from the Clyde River to replenish certain beaches. Transport for NSW are responsible for this work, and we are advocating to get this underway at the northern end of Surfside Beach as a matter of urgency.
Updates
2024
- Our consultant has prepared plans for the levee. We invited the community to an information session on 10 December at the Long Beach RFS shed to see images and diagrams of the planned work.
- In March, we awarded the tender for designing coastal erosion protection works at Surfside to Worley Consulting. The design includes a levee to safeguard the western end of Surfside beach against coastal erosion and inundation.
2023
- In December, we met with interested members of the community to talk about the conditions at Surfside Beach. We discussed the challenges brought on by coastal erosion and shared information about our plans for the area.
The sharp corner on Wharf Road in North Batemans Bay is at risk of collapsing due to the encroaching shoreline, threatening access to the area.
The CMP recommends implementing structural protection, such as a seawall. This seawall would effectively reduce the chances of wave damage to the road, ensuring its continued accessibility even during coastal storm conditions.
We are investigating and designing a structure that would follow the bend of Wharf Road and connect to the seawall currently protecting Easts Riverside Holiday Park. The wall would tie in with our plan to raise the height of the road as part of future upgrade work.
The proposed structure would protect Wharf Road and surrounding low-lying areas and allow safer public access to the beach. Additionally, we plan to rehabilitate the beach areas to enhance amenity.
Updates
2024
- Our consultant has prepared plans for the proposed seawall. We invited the community to an information session on 10 December at the Long Beach RFS shed to see images and diagrams of the proposed work.
- In March, we awarded the tender for designing the North Batemans Bay coastal erosion protection works to Worley Consulting. The design includes developing measures to safeguard Wharf Road corner against coastal erosion and inundation.
The existing seawall at Caseys Beach no longer provides adequate protection for Beach Road against coastal forces. During high seas, waves can overtop the seawall, causing damage to the road and surrounding areas.
The Coastal Management Plan (CMP) recommends replacing the seawall and installing a wave return barrier at the top. The proposed replacement structure will likely feature a similar sloped formation but will be taller, wider, and constructed with larger rocks for enhanced durability. The top barrier is expected to be a low concrete wall, prioritised for installation near the large culvert at the southern end of the beach, where the risk is greatest. Additional sections will be completed as funding permits.
The new, more robust seawall will be engineered to withstand extreme coastal conditions and designed with flexibility for future modifications. This approach will help maintain safe access along Beach Road as sea levels continue to rise.
Updates
2024
In July, we awarded the tender for designing the Caseys Beach Coastal Erosion Protection Seawall to Bluecoast Consulting Engineers. The design includes developing measures to safeguard Beach Road against coastal erosion and inundation
More information
For more information, please contact Council's Senior Project Engineer, George Workman:
- T: 02 4474 1391
- E: Council