Early setback as seawall safety fence washed away in huge seas

Even before construction commenced on the multi-million-dollar seawall extension at North Wollongong Beach, it’s had a setback.

Just days after a safety fence was installed on the beach to protect the seawall construction zone, half of it was washed away on the high tide in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Ironically, the seawall is being built to protect the shoreline from rising seas and coastal erosion.

One section of the fence was partly buried in sand, another can be seen in the surf about 30 metres off the beach, and a third section of the fence has been dumped at the bottom of the steps below the North Wollongong Surf Club.

North Beach Daily reports surf and weather conditions from the beach to their digital audience early each day and Michelle said she wasn’t surprised the fence had been taken.

“We were just marvelling at the fact that the locals knew but these guys seriously had no idea,” Michelle said. “Who knew? Apparently quite a few people other than the guys that put the fence up.”

Michelle said locals were concerned about the safety of ocean swimmers.

“If there’s a piece of fence floating out there and you’re swimming it‘s not safe.” She said, however, no one should be swimming today. “The force of the water is incredible… fierce and strong.”

Late on Saturday morning contractors returned to the beach to assess the damage.

Anticipating the possibility of more havoc on the next big tide of 1.7 metres at 6.20am Sunday, the decision was made to remove what was left of the fence.

The safety fence isn’t expected to be reinstated until the wild surf conditions ease early next week. The next challenge will be retrieving the sections of fence washed into the water, creating a new hazard for beachgoers.

The first sections of the broken fence were recovered early Saturday afternoon.

The Bureau of Meteorology and Surf Life Saving NSW issued warnings of hazardous surf conditions with reports that a combination of the massive swell and gale-force winds created a one-in-50 to one-in-100 year event. The hazardous surf warning is expected to remain in place for the entire weekend.

Wollongong’s beaches were closed today and beachgoers have been urged to use common sense and stay out of the water.

The big seas also created problems at the Continental Pool, which has been closed all day and is likely to remain closed for the remainder of the weekend.

As a precaution, the pool won’t reopen until it’s been emptied and refilled with clear seawater.

Warnings have been issued for boaters and rock fishing.

The Wollongong fishing fleet was secured in the harbour with none taking to the open water on Saturday.

The notoriously dangerous breakwall at the entrance to Wollongong Harbour was being smashed by the big seas again today but a number of fishos ignored the warning and took the risk of throwing in a line. None were wearing life jackets.

It’s almost 12 months ago to the day that a 58-year-old Sydney man drowned when he was washed off the breakwall in monstrous seas just before sunrise on Good Friday.

Improved fencing and warning signs have since been installed to warn of the dangers at this popular fishing spot but they’re ignored on a daily basis.

For Sunday, the BOM is again forecasting large and powerful surf conditions that will be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.