The worst storm since 1974 saw monster waves combine with the year’s highest tide to cause devastation to Terrigal businesses and infrastructure whilst homes along Wamberal Beach narrowly escaped serious damage. In a Facebook post, Terrigal Fire and Rescue said the homes were at "significant risk of structural collapse due to beach erosion." It's also famous for its epic erosion, which has been happening for decades. Council has started emergency works to stablilise the escarpment at Wamberal Beach which will include craning rock filled bags on to the beach.. “This … Today the erosion … Houses along Wamberal Beach on the NSW Central Coast have been hammered by huge swells, eroding the cliffs and taking stairs and balconies into the ocean. Wamberal Beach has a recent history of property and beach damage as a result of severe storms. The big swells that have pounded the New South Wales coast this week have caused a lot of damage. Coastal erosion is a way of life in Wamberal, north of Sydney. Two homes fell into the sea at Wamberal in 1978 during big seas, as this image shows. Terrigal Lagoon sits directly behind Wamberal Beach and currently drains into the sea just to the south of the slipping houses. Extensive beach erosion occurred in May 1974 and many houses were threatened. Crouch said Wamberal Beach had a long history of impacts from coastal erosion events. Following days of powerful surf barrelling towards beach-front properties, severe beach erosion is occurring at Wamberal. Asbestos and other building waste has been unearthed along Wamberal beach following severe erosion. “It means Council will be able to obtain the evidence required to plan, investigate and design future works. Wamberal is famous for its Wambie Whopper hamburgers at a takeaway shop not far from the beach. Left: Wamberal Beach erosion forecast modelling, for the present day and 2050 timeframe (Source: NSW Office of Environment & Heritage, 2016); Right: Erosion hazard mapping 2034, showing the a potential range impacts for Wamberal Beach over the 15-20 year period (Source: Kinsella et al, 2017; Journal of Marine Sciences) Four years later in June 1978, beach and dune erosion attributed to an intense rip cell undermined and destroyed two houses at Wamberal (Plate 1). The beach at Wamberal was vulnerable to erosion long before the homes, the homeowners, and even before their ancestors first turned up. “The grant will be used to help decide the most effective potential works to protect against the impacts of future erosion,” he said. history of wamberal woes 1974: Waves crash through beachfront houses, forcing residents to flee 1978: Two houses at the southern end of Wamberal beach collapse into the ocean Wamberal Beach Erosion. With images and video from the Newcastle Herald. 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