As an action within the Gosford Beaches Coastal Zone Management Plan (2017), Central Coast Council have prepared draft designs for temporary coastal protection works at the southern end of MacMasters Beach.

The primary purpose of the works is to help protect the MacMasters Beach Surf Life Saving Club from coastal hazards, including erosion. The works would assist in mitigating current risk while further investigation into future risk exposure and long-term management can be undertaken.

The draft design details a temporary coastal protection structure comprising of rock bag armour units which will protect and stabilise an 80-metre section in front of the surf club between the steps down to the ocean bath and the vehicle access ramp. Due to site constraints, the structure cannot be positioned further landward and its design has been carefully considered to reduce potential impacts on beach access, amenity and coastal processes.

This project is jointly funded through Council and the NSW State Government’s Coastal and Estuary Grants Program.

There is an 80-metre length of foreshore at the southern end of MacMasters Beach where coastal protection works are required to reduce the risk of erosion impacts to existing assets. This issue was included as an action in the certified Gosford Beaches Coastal Zone Management Plan (2017) and Council secured grant funding from the NSW State Government for the project.

Currently, informal coastal protection works are present in front of the surf club, including Bulka bags filled with stabilised sand. The bags were placed in June 2016 in an emergency response to erosion after large ocean swell and tides. This structure has since deteriorated and continues to degrade while only providing a very limited level of protection over a small section of the foreshore.

While Council had a draft design for a typical rock revetment previously, in more recent consultation with key stakeholders a preference was identified for a temporary coastal protection structure comprising of rock bag armour units. While other concept options, including vertical seawalls, were investigated and considered, the following advantages of a design using rock bag armour units were key to its selection:

• Provides a reduced footprint, compared to typical rock revetments and the previous design, and reduces beach access and visual impacts.
• Rock bag armour units are flexible and can be easily removed and re-used elsewhere if adverse outcomes are experienced. Additionally, it is easy to raise or modify the structure to adjust to changing conditions.
• This option is cost effective and best mitigates wave reflection impacts at this location.
• It provides appropriate protection to the surf club over a shorter design life while a long-term solution can be investigated and developed.

Council engaged coastal engineers to draft the design. When preparing the design, the engineers carefully considered difficult site constraints and design considerations, including the need to:

• Retain and avoid disturbing the existing Norfolk Island pine trees.
• Avoid any excavation into the slope of the dune due to Aboriginal heritage.
• Minimise the extent that the structure projects onto the beach to maintain beach access.
• Provide a value for money solution.
• Provide an acceptable level of protection to the surf club from coastal hazards.
• Minimise potential impacts on surf and beach amenity.

Council is now seeking feedback from the community on the draft design. All responses received during the consultation period will be used to inform the final design and next steps for the project.

Between 11 November and 9 December 2024 Council will be seeking feedback via:

• Filling in the online survey.
• Emailing Nick Tarasenko at nick.tarasenko@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au.

The community are encouraged to view the draft design and provide comments and feedback using the survey.

Council will also be hosting one drop-in session where members of the public can come and meet Council staff to discuss the project.

This drop-in session will be held at MacMasters Beach Surf Life Saving Club on Wednesday 20 November 2024, 2.00pm – 6.00pm

Council is encouraging all members of the local community to complete the survey and provide feedback and suggestions regarding the MacMasters Beach Temporary Coastal Protection Works. All feedback received will be considered in the process of finalising the design and determining the next steps of the project.

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