In a first for any Council in New South Wales, Northern Beaches Council last night endorsed a package of financial assistance in conjunction with the NSW Government that will help eligible residents to protect their properties along the beachfront where they are impacted by coastal erosion.

Mayor Michael Regan said Collaroy residents had waited a long time to be able to get some surety to protect their properties, impacted by severe storms in 2016.

“It’s been a long road for these residents since the storm – worrying every time another storm was forecast.

“It has been an epic process because we have had to take the lead in New South Wales, expose the flaws in the NSW coastal management framework and together with our local MPs we’ve had to push to get some State government departments to the table to get barriers overcome.

“There has been minimal direction provided by the state government to Council and residents on how to interpret state coastal management legislation which means even getting to DA stage has been a lengthy and costly process.

“There are simply no precedents here so we have had to fight every step of the way just to get to this point.

“This is the sixth and final step in this very challenging process that Council has had to resolve to allow residents to protect their properties and receive financial assistance in doing so.

“The end result is that residents at Collaroy- Narrabeen are the only residents in NSW today who have a clear path to receiving a package of financial assistance from state and local government to construct their own coastal protection works.

“I am pleased we are finally at a point where residents have a path forward to protect their homes.

“The funding arrangements will provide some financial assistance for the local residents without a significant impost to the ratepayer.”

Eligible residents will be able to apply for assistance covering up to 20% of the total cost of coastal protection works. Ten percent of the funds will come from a grant from the state government and Council will match it with another 10%.

It is expected that residents will be able to start applying for funding before this year’s storm season.

Council is putting in place a simple but thorough application process to ensure best governance around grant allocation.

Mayor Regan said Council will also soon begin construction on a sea wall on public land, on a 250m strip in front of the Collaroy car park to protect this important community infrastructure.

Media Enquiries: media@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au 9942 2678