Coast Uncovered

Coast Uncovered Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Coast Uncovered, The Entrance.

16/07/2025

TUGGERAH LAKES: In this next clip, Greeny, Laingy and I catch up with longtime local Pat Smith again while exploring the Long Jetty area.

Pat reflects on how the lakefront used to be: pure white sand, no w**d, and locals hauling their draggers out to catch prawns.

Pat talks us through the restoration work done over the years, including the 1989–91 Tuggerah Lakes Restoration Program, and how parts of it worked — but also where maintenance has fallen behind.

After recent storms, there’s been a clear build-up of w**d and debris.

While locals are enjoying the improvements and the space, Pat makes the point that with a bit more upkeep, this place could return to something really special again.

16/07/2025

LOCALS CHAT: “It’s not rocket science.”

Longtime locals Scott Laing, Paul Green and Pat Smith are calling for practical action to fix the Central Coast’s ageing and failing lake system — and say it doesn’t have to be complex or expensive.

From installing simple floodgates at Budgewoi to raising lake levels and flushing out more water through the channel, to using 5-tonne concrete blocks like they do overseas to stop beachfront erosion — the answers aren’t complicated.

“We did more with two blokes and two shovels in the ‘70s than all the gear and money they’ve got now.”

Residents also say The Entrance channel is in the wrong spot and that sand used to be pumped out constantly, but red tape and too many decision-makers have slowed everything down.

“I’ve seen the lake fully closed 10 times in my life. It used to clean itself out. Now it just fills up and floods homes.”

So why can’t landowners or locals get permission to help fix it?

Well they say that’s the million-dollar question.

16/07/2025

EROSION UPDATE: Representatives from the Entrance North residents facing erosion met with Council yesterday in an attempt to break the impasse between the Council and the community regarding the difficult conditions.

Some of the red tape residents have encountered was raised with the local government prior to the scope of works being submitted to the NSW Reconstruction Authority for approval. These issues now need to be ironed out so that work can finally commence on the ground.

One resident said, “There have been a few hurdles we’ve needed to cross, and these were raised early on, prior to approval. We hope they can be resolved soon to benefit all residents along the 250-metre stretch.”

Central Coast Council has issued the following statement:

“Following the Ministerial Authorisation given for temporary emergency coastal protection works at The Entrance North, property owners are considering how they might proceed.”

“Owners have 6-months from the date of issue to commence physical works.”

“Council issued draft plans for work to property owners at Wamberal on 30 June. Council is consulting with owners on the draft plans and working to have amended plans incorporating owner feedback where practicable by early next week.”

“Council appreciates the diverse needs of owners at both locations and are working with owners and their technical representatives to find solutions that address their unique needs and preferences.”

Wamberal residents say they welcome Council and the RA’s attempts at addressing the emergency at Wamberal Beach.

“However the works are minor and limited and there remains a serious public safety risk along the beach further north which the RA and Council have failed to rectify.”

16/07/2025

PICNIC POINT: Petition launched to reclaim public foreshore at The Entrance

Local business owner Peter Speir, from Thriv-e Bike Hire and Service Centre, has launched a petition calling for action to reclaim Picnic Point and the Tuggerah Lakes foreshore in the interests of public safety and the local economy.

Speir says long-term campers have taken over public carparks, leaving families, elderly residents, and visitors feeling unsafe.

He says small businesses are suffering as a result.“My son-in-law was fined $160 for parking on the grass after launching his boat – because the carparks were full of caravans, boats, trailers and tents,” he said.

Speir described ongoing issues with syringes, alcohol, shouting, and public nudity near children’s playgrounds, and said mothers and elderly residents no longer feel safe walking in the area.

While acknowledging that many of the long-term campers are homeless, he says compassion shouldn’t come at the cost of public access, safety and the viability of local businesses.

“Businesses are closing, visitors are staying away, and local families are avoiding the foreshore,” he said.

Speir also questioned the value of investing in a new boardwalk when people don’t feel safe enough to use the one already there.

“Locals are choosing other towns, tourists are staying away, and small businesses like mine can’t survive another two years of inaction.”

The petition is calling for the immediate relocation of homeless campers to areas with access to housing, transport and services, as well as consistent enforcement of parking and camping laws.

“If we remain silent, our public spaces will continue to be taken over, and the decline of The Entrance will only worsen,” Speir said.

The petition is available at:https://thriv-e.com/reclaim-the-entrance-petition-for-public-safety

Read the full Coast Community News article:https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2025/07/petition-launced-to-reclaim-public-foreshore-from-campers

The photo below was provided today by another local after a new setup was spotted near the foreshore.

The individual, who has chosen not to be named, believes trees have been cut down in the area to build a makeshift jetty and home.

The NSW Minister for the Homelessness and Housing Rose Jackson has said are deeply committed to supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness on the Central Coast.

“We know that behind every statistic is a person, a parent, a young person, who deserves the dignity of a safe place to call home,” Minister Jackson said.

“Through the NSW Government’s $100 million Homelessness Innovation Fund, we’re investing in real solutions that provide not just shelter, but stability and hope by creating supported transitional, medium term, and affordable accommodation for those sleeping rough, or facing housing insecurity.

“One example is Allawah House, a former disused aged care facility transformed into 14 secure rooms for older women at risk of homelessness. This project, delivered by Pacific Link, offers a safe space for women to stay before they move into longer-term housing.

“We’re also delivering the largest housing build in our state’s history through the Building Homes for NSW program. A once-in-a-generation investment to tackle the housing crisis head-on and give more people a safe and secure place to call home.

“This program is already delivering thousands of new homes across the state including a record 1711 in the past year - the largest increase in public homes built in NSW modern history.

“Right now, 93 new social homes are under construction or currently in planning for the Central Coast.

“These homes will make a real difference for local families and individuals who are struggling to find affordable housing. These are just some of the 8400 homes we are delivering across the state and for the Central Coast.

“The State Government has a critical role to play in addressing the housing crisis, but we also acknowledge the current challenges are the result of long-standing market failures. That’s why we’re working across government and with the community drive change that lasts.”

A spokesperson for Central Coast Council said the Council is committed to working with services to find solutions.

In an official statement, Central Coast Council said homelessness is a complex, nationwide issue that extends beyond the region and requires a coordinated response from all levels of government, service providers, and the community.

“Homelessness is not just an issue on the Central Coast – it affects the entire eastern seaboard and, more broadly, the country. It’s a challenge that needs all stakeholders and the community working together,” the statement read.

“We connect rough sleepers with health and housing services, offer transitional accommodation in under-utilised assets and holiday parks, and increase the supply of community housing through our Affordable Housing Land Proposal,” Council has said.

“These programs are made possible through partnerships with the State Government, and work is ongoing to create more pathways to meet the urgent need.

“It is important to note that Council Rangers do not have the authority to forcibly relocate individuals; this responsibility lies with NSW Police.”

12/07/2025

CLEAN UP: Back out on deck with Laingy and Greeny — this time we took a look at Tuggerah Lakes at Long Jetty.

There used to be a lot of white sand here back in the ‘heyday’— now it’s mostly sludge.

12/07/2025

“It’s not over yet.”

Despite North Entrance residents finally being handed an approved scope of works — which includes sand nourishment, rocks, and sandbags — the road to real protection remains full of hurdles.

Locals say the so-called “green light” feels more like an amber light. They still haven’t received the final paperwork or clear go-ahead to begin work on the ground and even then there’s multiple boxes that need to be ticked.

Another Entrance North local added,” The Section 68 Order for North Entrance to commence works has been issued by the Reconstruction Authority, but there have been no protection works undertaken yet.”

“We can’t start without completing numerous conditions mandated by the council.”

“We are still waiting for the final paperwork and the latest version of plans and there are very constraining issues to deal with before work can commence.”

What makes this situation unique, residents say, is that the damage wasn’t just caused by nature — it began with man-made changes. From the construction of the groin in 2017 to the stoppage of dredging and the mishandling of the river mouth opening, each decision had a devastating impact.

And now, even the beloved community-built surf club — built by locals, not council — is still under threat from the erosion.

Governments promote it like, ‘we’ve given the locals a solution’ — but really, it just hands all the hurdles and responsibilities to us.

Residents say they’ve have done everything right. They’ve paid their taxes, supported the community, and asked for help.

Instead, they get generic emails — often landing late on a Friday afternoon, just before 5pm — offering little clarity and even less certainty.

People online are quick to judge — “don’t build on sand,” they say — but we’ve lost more land in under a decade than you’d expect over a hundred years.

This has been a long, emotional battle for residents at both The Entrance North and at Wamberal.

“It’s draining. It’s frustrating. And it’s still not over. “

12/07/2025

CMP UPDATE: The Central Coast Council’s Draft Coastal Management Program (CMP) will go on public exhibition this Monday for 42 days.

The draft CMP will go out for community feedback from July 14 until August 25.

Environment and Planning Committee Chair Doug Eaton said he’s expecting strong community feedback both in support and opposition.

“The sooner we have a plan accepted by the State Government, the sooner we can take action without requiring further approvals from other agencies — and those actions will then become eligible for state funding.”

Further adding, “In my opinion, it is somewhat lacking particularly in the emergency sub-plan, which doesn’t provide any path forward for people in coastal erosion emergency to do any preventative works.”

The Coastal Management Program was due in 2021.

A NSW Government spokesperson has said the state government has also provided significant financial and technical support to council to develop CMPs.

However the draft CMP has drawn criticism from residents and local associations who say it contains broad language and is missing key actions and procedures relating to lublic infrastructure and private properties at risk, and for failing to communicate with residents this impacts during the making of the draft document.

One resident said, “While the draft CMP includes sobering mapping that shows storm surges could break through to Terrigal Lagoon and threaten adjoining homes and infrastructure, for which residents would have to bear rhe cost.”

Residents say Council failed to adequately address the implications for high-risk suburbs like Wamberal and North Entrance during a recent Planning Committee meeting.”

“These areas are tourist and residential hubs – there’s no real plan in place like what the Gold Coast had 20 years ago when they were facing similar risks,” another resident added.

“The draft CMP focuses on “planned retreat” and investigating sand nourishment – measures residents say are not viable or immediate enough to manage the current situation.”

“Planned retreat isn’t affordable, and there’s no timeline for action. Investigating sand nourishment is just more delay while our homes are at risk,” said a North Entrance resident.

Dredging at The Entrance and sand nourishment of the The Entrance North Beach were also discussed but no clear explanation for why it had stopped, or why Council’s dredge had been sold.

“No one even seemed to know why the dredge was sold — how are we meant to trust there’s a plan?” another local said.

“With no strategic direction on where protection works are appropriate or how infrastructure and homes will be safeguarded, many say the report reads as more paperwork than action.

“There’s no comfort in this draft CMP,” one resident said. “It just doesn’t deal with the reality on the ground.”

Given the CMP is a 10-year plan, multiple experts question why Council is allocating resources to explore retreat options that are widely seen as unviable over the coming decade.

A Coastal Engineer has said, “While the draft plan allows protection works to be considered on a case-by-case basis via development applications, and proposes region-wide engineering design standards, it lacks strategic direction on where such protection is appropriate.”

Adding , “A core concern is the CMP’s avoidance of a clear stance — protect or retreat.

“Instead, it proposes further investigation through the development of a Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy, which includes options like managed or planned retreat, yet this comes without acknowledging the absence of any practical mechanism to implement retreat in the foreseeable future.”

Meanwhile the Wamberal Protection Association has said that the draft Coastal Management Plan (CMP) released by Central Coast Council has confirmed 72 buildings and vital infrastructure are in immediate danger at Wamberal, and a significantly wider area at risk of future erosion and inundation than previously estimated.

“This is a clear signal to Premier Minns that we urgently need a viable solution to safeguard Wamberal Beach and the broader community,” said WPA President Chris Rogers.

“Of significant concern is a coastal hazard assessment which forecasts future erosion could extend beyond Ocean View Drive, potentially breaking through into Terrigal Lagoon during major storm events.”

“While we welcome the Premier’s promise to deliver a sand nourishment program for Wamberal Beach, it will not guarantee the protection of our coastline.

“It is vital the Premier recognises that successful sand nourishment programs, such as on the Gold Coast and Stockton Beach, can only work with coastal protection structures such as revetments or seawalls.

“We have a plan developed by the well-regarded Gold Coast coastal engineer Angus Jackson for low-impact emergency works—funded by residents and designed to protect public safety. But we remain in limbo as Council has yet to properly brief the Minister so the relevant powers under the Reconstruction Authority Act can be activated.”

08/07/2025

LIVE on the Today Show now with Paul Green from The Entrance North, as conditions begin to intensify again this morning. 🌊

It’s been another long night for coastal residents.

Over at Wamberal, there are fresh reports of more land slippages.

Residents have now been informed that Council will attempt to carry out further emergency protection works in the area.

Thanks Steve from the local NBN News

08/07/2025

Emergency Works Completed at Wamberal Beach

Council has now completed emergency works at Wamberal Beach, including the installation of rock bags at a couple of properties and sand scraping to help manage erosion impacts.

These works were authorised by LEOCON under emergency powers.

However, as a local Wamberal resident pointed out, they unfortunately came at the ratepayer’s expense.

Also adding, “If the Reconstruction Autority acted quickly which is the purpose of the legislation then this cost would not have been put on the community.”

The scope of works prepared by Council has taken six weeks to deliver; which is funded by the landowners and includes a emergency temporary protection and sand nourishment for limited properties.

This situation highlights the urgent need for coordinated, timely action at coastal communities like Wamberal—before emergency works become the only option.

The Reconstruction Authority is still sitting on The Entrance North’s temporary protection which includes hard protection and sand nourishment at the resident’s expense.

08/07/2025

Scope of works approved for The Entrance North, but calls for smoother emergency response process

The NSW Reconstruction Authority has now approved the scope of works for The Entrance North, allowing residents to undertake coastal protection on their properties at their own cost.

The approved plans include hard protection measures such as rocks and sandbags, along with sand nourishment, in response to the ongoing coastal erosion crisis.

However, concerns have been raised over the complexity and delays in the current system — especially after emergency protection works were urgently carried out at Wamberal Beach this week during an emergency, with dozens of homes evacuated at both locations.

Deputy Mayor Doug Eaton echoed these concerns, saying the Reconstruction Authority is not the most effective pathway for managing emergency coastal works.

“The legislation needs to be relooked at. We need a better system in place to allow residents to respond quickly when homes are at risk,” Cr Eaton said.

In a statement today, Central Coast Council welcomed the Ministerial Authorisation for temporary coastal protection works at The Entrance North.

“This is a significant development for The Entrance North community, allowing property owners to act swiftly to protect their homes,” said Mayor Lawrie McKinna.

“Since the declaration of the Reconstruction Area in May, Council has collaborated with the NSW Government and private property owners to develop a scope of work for a temporary emergency coastal protection – which has now received Ministerial approval.”

“The Ministerial Authorisation means private property owners at The Entrance North can now legally undertake temporary emergency coastal protection works – a crucial step given the escalating erosion risks in the area.”

“This authorisation will allow much-needed protection for properties at The Entrance North, and importantly also provide time, while owners pursue the design and approval of a permanent solution.”

“I acknowledge the deep frustration and immense emotional toll felt by property owners impacted by the escalating threat of coastal erosion. It’s a complicated issue and up until now, there has been a limited pathway available for temporary emergency works.”

Council CEO David Farmer added that while the process has been complex, he welcomed the collaboration with the NSW Government.

“This Ministerial Authorisation has been gained following two Extraordinary Meetings of Council in May, called to address the accelerating emergency impacting coastlines across the Central Coast,” Mr Farmer said.

“Since then, the state government and Council staff have worked tirelessly with the aim to achieve the authorisation for protection works which will offer further protection for The Entrance North property owners.”

“However, we now need to continue to work with the NSW Government and property owners to achieve a long-term solution.”

“This authorisation and prescribed development consent pathways for a project of this scale can typically take years, and this authorisation provided through the NSW Reconstruction Act has enabled authorisation in only a matter of weeks.”

Wamberal 4/07/2025
08/07/2025

Wamberal 4/07/2025

Address

The Entrance, NSW

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Coast Uncovered posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share