Latest news with #coastal erosion
ABC News
21 hours ago
- Business
- ABC News
Why a seawall might not protect both beaches and homes from coastal erosion
Do home owners have a right to protect their home from coastal erosion, when it could come at the cost of neighbouring properties or public access to the beach? When it comes to protecting homes and even community assets like surf clubs, footpaths and roads along Australia's popular beaches, one coastal erosion expert put it like this: "How much is protecting my private land impacting broader society?" Some landowners feel they need to take matters into their own hands, with a businessman south of Melbourne building an unauthorised concrete seawall along his beachfront property in an effort to protect it from erosion and landslips. But experts say building individual seawalls can make the problem worse. So what can be done to protect homes, roads and surf clubs from coastal erosion, and does it come at the expense of the character of the beach? Professor David Kennedy is a geomorphologist — a scientist who studies landscapes — at the University of Melbourne. He said the first thing to know was, basically, you could not hold back the tide. "As soon as you put in one seawall, you just transfer the demand next door," he said. "The demand for the sand is still there." He said sea level rise caused by climate change would mean the issue was not going away, and Australians needed to consider what we valued about our coastline. Is it infrastructure like homes, roads and surf clubs, or is it the beaches themselves? "Otherwise, we'll end up with a giant wall around our beaches, or around our whole coastline," Professor Kennedy said. Professor Kennedy said governments of various levels were developing plans to manage coastal resilience, but development was happening too quickly to keep up. "We've got to slow down development and look at what we value about the beach," he said. But for a nation of beach-lovers, those are difficult discussions. For many people who live along Australia's coastline, it is a pressing issue, and a financial one, as finding insurance is becoming increasingly difficult. A spokesperson for the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) confirmed that "actions of the sea" were generally not covered by home insurance policies. That is even though an ICA spokesperson told the ABC "communities and properties are increasingly vulnerable to coastal erosion being made worse by climate change". In 2021, the ICA commissioned a report that confirmed Australia's exposure to current and future risks from the sea, including coastal erosion, king tides and rising sea levels, was "very high". It predicted the number of properties at risk of coastal erosion and inundation would increase and recommended investment in protection infrastructure, where environmentally and economically feasible. It also called for planning rules to limit new development in high-risk locations. Councillor Robert Szatkowski is the president of the Association of Bayside Municipalities — an alliance of councils that share the coastline around Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay. He said there was a clear need to "simplify and clarify who's responsible for what along Victoria's coastline". "Councils are on the front lines, but we can't be expected to foot the bill alone for emergency works like beach repairs and sand renourishment," he said. Mr Szatkowski said the current "tangle of agencies" involved in managing coastlines could cause delays when problems arose and fast action was needed. "This is not just about infrastructure … it's about protecting our communities, our local economies, and our natural environment. Without strong, unified action, all three are at risk." Along Australia's coast, communities have opted for various solutions to the problem eating away at homes, surf clubs and roads. On the NSW Central Coast, violent swells that hammered the beach in 2020 saw some homes partially collapse. Council workers have installed large bags of rocks and delivered sand to help replenish the beach — but some locals are calling for more urgent works. But it is not just homes that are at risk. In Victoria, there have been various efforts to shore up the iconic Great Ocean Road, including at Apollo Bay, where research in 2012 found the beach was eroding at a rate of 9 centimetres a year. Professor Kennedy said part of the appeal of the Great Ocean Road was being able to witness the Southern Ocean up close — for better and for worse. "The reason the Twelve Apostles is so impressive is, it's eroding," he said. At Inverloch, in Victoria's Gippsland region, locals say sand replenishment works and sandbags are no longer enough. They are calling for urgent action to protect their surf club from being swept into the ocean. Lighthouses are also at risk. At Robe, in South Australia, at least 10 metres of cliff collapsed in a weekend near the community's working lighthouse. In the aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, millions of cubic metres of sand were gouged from the coastline. But some experts said despite the dramatic erosion, it showed how good management could protect waterfront infrastructure in the face of severe weather. Back on the beach at Frankston South, landowner Gene Neill told the ABC he would like to see the council build a seawall along the coast to protect homes and act as a path for people to walk along, like the one in Melbourne's bayside suburbs. While Mr Neill previously denied the seawall was being built on public land, a government spokesperson told the ABC the Frankston South beach was "public land". Professor Kennedy said the legality of building seawalls on private property was a planning question for individual local councils. He said governments would need to consider buying back beachfront land and rehabilitating it, to protect both infrastructure and the beach. It means the Frankston South case is one to watch — with other coastal residents and beach users standing by to see how authorities handle it.
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Plans gathered to save graves from coastal erosion in Happisburgh
Plans to exhume remains from a graveyard threatened by coastal erosion were being worked on, a council said. St Mary the Virgin Church in Happisburgh, Norfolk, is now 80m away from a cliff edge and officials believe the cemetery could be lost to the sea in less than 20 years. North Norfolk District Council, the Diocese of Norwich and Happisburgh Parish Council have started to consider what action needs to be taken to protect the graves. Harry Blathwayt, a Liberal Democrat councillor and the cabinet member for the coast on the district council, said: "We are working with the local community to identify possible solutions. "We need to get ready for the future. It is not something we would wish to be surprised by." The authorities have been working with a government-backed Coastwise scheme, which aims to prepare coastal communities threatened by has commissioned a report to investigate the relocation of bodies from cemeteries and graveyards at risk of being lost to the the threat was imminent in Happisburgh it has been treated as a test case, to establish how such a large-scale relocation of remains might be added: "This is a national worry and is going to become a problem in the future." Exposed to erosion While Happisburgh might be seen as a pilot project, it would not be the first church – or graveyard – to be lost to the churches at nearby Eccles and at Dunwich, Suffolk, fell victim to shifting coastlines, graves were left to be exposed by the erosion."We cannot allow that to happen," added fate of the 15th Century church and graveyard has been raised during meetings with villagers and the Diocese of Norwich, which has responsibility for the part of these talks, parishioners have considered decommissioning the graveyard so no more burials could take place there.A Diocese of Norwich spokeswoman said: "This is not a new problem in the Diocese of Norwich. At least nine churches and therefore graveyards were lost to coastal erosion during the Middle Ages."At Dunwich in Suffolk, which was in the Diocese of Norwich in the Middle Ages, an entire town with eight churches was washed away by coastal erosion." The church grounds is Happisburgh include the graves of 119 sailors who died on HMS Invincible in March 1801, when the ship ran into difficulties after leaving Great Yarmouth to fight in the Battle of it made its way along the coast, it got stuck on the Hammond's Knoll near Haisborough 200 sailors escaped the wreck but more than 400 drowned.A memorial was unveiled in 1998 after some of the sailors' remains were discovered during work to dig a trench a decade prior. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Coastal 'rollback' cash receives mixed reactions
Residents at risk of losing their homes to coastal erosion have told the BBC they are not sure a "rollback" scheme will help them find new places to live. Great Yarmouth Borough Council's cabinet voted on Tuesday to accept the Environment Agency grant that would help develop alternative land for homeowners who face being displaced. The £1.6m will be used to cover the demolition costs of their existing homes and transfer planning rights to a new site. James Bensly, whose borough council ward includes Hemsby, said: "If we hadn't had this [funding], the residents would be in a worse state than they are now." The fund, which will be for residential properties only, will not be used as compensation for the estimated 30 households on The Marrams, who would have to buy new homes on the yet-to-be-identified site. Bensly – who owns the Beach Cafe, which is the nearest business to the village's eroding coastline – said people whose homes were under threat could effectively sell the planning rights of their homes back to the council, allowing the authority to transfer those rights to a new plot of land. The councillor added: "What we are talking about is a lump sum to the residents for them to explore all possibilities themselves. We can't tell them what to do or how to do it." David Pegg, 84, who has dementia, and his wife Marion, 71, are worried that if they are forced to leave their home, they will not have enough money to buy one of the properties built for those affected. "How would we afford somewhere else? You put your money into your home and that is your home," said Mrs Pegg. "You can't just suddenly up roots and build another house at our age. I think [this scheme] isn't any good for us, personally." Bensly said: "In a perfect world we would love fishtail groynes to help the beach mature and become more healthy by catching all of the [sand], but this is one of the only things that's possible at the moment." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Related stories Home on the edge of a cliff sold to buyer Visitors worry resort will vanish without defences Labour pledges to change coastal defence funding Related internet links Great Yarmouth Borough Council
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Hemsby coastal 'rollback' cash receives mixed reactions
Residents at risk of losing their homes to coastal erosion have told the BBC they are not sure a "rollback" scheme will help them find new places to Yarmouth Borough Council's cabinet voted on Tuesday to accept the Environment Agency grant that would help develop alternative land for homeowners who face being £1.6m will be used to cover the demolition costs of their existing homes and transfer planning rights to a new Bensly, whose borough council ward includes Hemsby, said: "If we hadn't had this [funding], the residents would be in a worse state than they are now." The fund, which will be for residential properties only, will not be used as compensation for the estimated 30 households on The Marrams, who would have to buy new homes on the yet-to-be-identified – who owns the Beach Cafe, which is the nearest business to the village's eroding coastline – said people whose homes were under threat could effectively sell the planning rights of their homes back to the council, allowing the authority to transfer those rights to a new plot of councillor added: "What we are talking about is a lump sum to the residents for them to explore all possibilities themselves. We can't tell them what to do or how to do it." David Pegg, 84, who has dementia, and his wife Marion, 71, are worried that if they are forced to leave their home, they will not have enough money to buy one of the properties built for those affected."How would we afford somewhere else? You put your money into your home and that is your home," said Mrs Pegg."You can't just suddenly up roots and build another house at our age. I think [this scheme] isn't any good for us, personally."Bensly said: "In a perfect world we would love fishtail groynes to help the beach mature and become more healthy by catching all of the [sand], but this is one of the only things that's possible at the moment." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Cosy seafront chalet hits market in Norfolk for just £10,000 - but can you spot the catch?
With three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open plan living/dining space and, most importantly, unforgettable sea views, this property is a snap at just £10,000. Not far from the serene spot are a 'well-stocked supermarket, convenience stores, cafes, pubs and traditional fish and chip shops', according to the estate agent's brochure. Indeed, properties in the area are hard to come by as they rarely come up for sale. But there's a catch – it sits on the edge of a precipice in a part of the country notorious for dramatic coastal erosion. Just 20 years ago, the detached chalet was around 100 yards from the sea, according to neighbours. But the sandy coastline, combined with buffeting waves and adverse weather, have left it teetering on the edge of oblivion. Despite its limited lifespan, it has already been sold, subject to contract, after someone swooped in and presumably met the request for 'offers in excess of £10,000' - quite possible given there were 96 enquiries and 28 viewings before the sale was agreed. The sellers, who live in a different part of the country and are understood to have rented the property to holidaymakers for the past five years, didn't want to discuss parting with the chalet, which they have owned for over 20 years. But next-door neighbour Carol Boyes, a 79-year-old retired nurse, insisted whoever bought would bag a bargain. 'There were two sets of chalets in front of mine when I moved here in 2004 and the sea was at quite a distance,' she said. 'You had to walk over the dunes to get to it around 100 yards away. There's quite a lot of sand and dunes that have gone down [since then]. 'But it is peaceful and tranquil and you've got the beach right here – that's what I love about it. The views are gorgeous and people are very loyal to Hemsby.' She added: 'Next door is a lovely place. Inside has been well looked after and it's got a log burner. 'I don't think they're [whoever buys it] wasting their money. If you get three years out of it, or longer, then it's better than nothing.' Another local, Simon Measures – who is also chairman of pressure group Save Hemsby Coastline - added: 'I'm very pleased for the owner of the property. They've managed to sell it and the potential buyers have bought it on the understanding that it's potentially just a holiday let for a very short period of time. 'As long as they're happy, it's not their main residence and they haven't sunk all their money into it, it's a great place to be.' The sale would also give 'hope' to locals who wanted to get something out of their beloved homes to sink into an investment in another property before they were lost to the waves forever, he added. 'It does give some hope to residents who live here that there is some equity but it is easier to sell as a holiday home, rather than a main home,' he said. The timber-framed white chalet, which sits on a wrap-around plot and was built around 100 years ago, was marketed for 'cash buyers only' by Caister-on-Sea estate agents Minors & Brady. Its brochure states the property is 'on the coastal cliffs of Hemsby' and has 'panoramic views of the scenic beach' which overlooks the North Sea. The 'bright' open-plan sitting/dining room 'invites relaxation and entertaining' and leads to a kitchen 'fitted with a range of wall and base cabinetry, providing ample storage space, with thoughtfully designed areas for you to install your own range of appliances', while the master bedroom has a 'private en suite'. Outside is a 'decked terrace, where you can savour the spectacular sea views – a space equally suited to summer BBQs, al fresco dining or simply relaxing in the afternoon sunshine'. The chalet is on The Marrams, a notorious road where one determined resident has saved his home on two occasions by dragging it back from the brink using heavy machinery. Speaking last year after he revealed he was considering a third rescue plan involving a 'military-grade operation' to airlift his beloved beachfront home from the crumbling cliff face, former Grenadier guardsman Lance Martin explained: 'It is my home, my life.' Mr Martin bought his house, Dune Fall, for £95,000 in 2017 after a surveyor told him it would be safe for decades, with only 3ft of land expected to be lost to the elements each year. But it has receded far faster, with a particular pounding in 2018 from the Beast from the East storm, which saw 100ft of coastline lost and meant seven homes had to be demolished for safety reasons. Another cliff fall in November 2023 led to five more homes being razed to the ground after a 300ft section collapsed. Locals in the village, which has 3,000 residents, complained at the time that they had been abandoned by the Government after it scrapped a sea wall defence scheme. The cost was estimated to have soared from £15 million to £20 million because of inflation and an alternative short-term solution of installing rocks to break up the impact of the waves was criticised as insufficient. Another local, who asked not to be named, told the Mail: 'There's a here today, gone tomorrow feel about the place. It's beautiful but you know it's not going to last.' Minors and Brady manager Dan Overy said: 'We're very happy to be able to secure a buyer for the vendor.'
