NSW Land and Environment Court approves $3m seawall at The Entrance North despite opposition
Consensus Summary
The NSW Land and Environment Court approved a 90-metre seawall at The Entrance North, Central Coast, to protect beachfront apartment blocks from severe coastal erosion. The decision, made by Commissioner Joanne Gray, overturned the Central Coast Council’s refusal and may set a precedent for future seawall approvals in NSW. The seawall, up to 1.5 metres high, is intended to provide 60 years of protection and follows emergency works in 2025, including 15,000 cubic metres of sand and 6000 tonnes of rock. The project faced opposition from residents, surfers, and environmental groups, with over 100 submissions highlighting concerns about visual impact, beach access, and environmental harm. The court acknowledged the difficulty of securing seawall approvals under NSW planning laws, with the Central Coast Council arguing the seawall would create a visually dominating structure. Meanwhile, homeowners at nearby Wamberal Beach hope the ruling will influence future government responses to coastal erosion, though the council warned of setting an adverse precedent. The court also ruled that maintenance costs and agreements must be finalised by August 4.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- A 90-metre seawall was approved by the NSW Land and Environment Court to protect beachfront apartment blocks at The Entrance North, Central Coast.
- The seawall is designed to be up to 1.5 metres high.
- The NSW Land and Environment Court decision was made by Commissioner Joanne Gray.
- The seawall project faced over 100 submissions from residents, surfers, and environmental groups.
- The NSW government authorised emergency coastal protection works in 2025, including 15,000 cubic metres of sand and 6000 tonnes of rock.
- The Central Coast Council opposed the seawall, arguing it would create a visually dominating structure and harm the natural landscape.
- The court ruling may set a precedent for future seawall approvals in NSW.
- The court decision follows persistent coastal erosion issues at The Entrance North since 2020.
- The seawall is intended to provide 60 years of protection against coastal hazards.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The NSW Land and Environment Court overturned the Central Coast Council’s refusal of the seawall project.
- The beach at The Entrance North has lost 35 metres of width since 2020 due to erosion and storms in 2020 and 2025.
- A proposed $17 million seawall at nearby Wamberal Beach was rejected by the Hunter and Central Coast Regional Planning Panel after 637 public submissions.
- The seawall project could leave residents facing levies of up to $294,000 to fund the works.
- The NSW government’s emergency coastal protection works in 2025 were authorised after severe storms.
- The seawall is expected to protect dozens of strata units on Hutton Road.
- The court acknowledged that NSW’s planning laws make it difficult for homeowners to secure approval for permanent seawalls.
- The seawall is described as a 'hard, regular, man-made and visually dominating structure' by opponents.
- The seawall’s funding model is compared to Collaroy and Narrabeen, where landowners pay 80 per cent of construction costs.
- The seawall will replace a temporary fix currently in place at The Entrance North.
- Homeowners at Wamberal Beach hope the decision will influence future government approaches to coastal erosion.
- The court ruled that both parties must agree on how the ongoing maintenance of the seawall will be paid for and conducted, with final details due before August 4.
- Waterfront properties at The Entrance North have been seeking a solution to coastal erosion for the past six years.
- The Central Coast Council argued that the seawall’s approval could set an 'adverse' precedent for other local beaches.
- Commissioner Joanne Gray stated that the seawall’s adverse visual impact is limited to when the beach is in a fully eroded state.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The SMH states the seawall cost is $3 million, while the ABC does not mention a specific cost for the seawall.
- The SMH mentions a $17 million seawall proposal at Wamberal Beach was rejected, but the ABC only states that Wamberal homeowners are seeking approval for a seawall without specifying a cost.
Source Articles
The $3m seawall dilemma splitting home owners as the ocean closes in
A major court ruling has laid bare the rift between owners of uninsurable property, councils, and environmental groups over who bears the cost of defending beachfront real estate.
Seawall ruling may set erosion precedent for NSW beaches
Beachside residents at The Entrance North can start building their own seawall after a court ruling that may set a precedent for the entire NSW coastline.