Collaroy Narrabeen Beach Collaroy

Collaroy before the development of human infrastructure:

Before human intervention, the coast of Collaroy was a series of sand dunes. The beach carried out its natural process and was undisturbed by human activities and construction. The beach has always had extensive sand dunes behind them, however this did not create negative impacts because it was a natural occurrence and there was no infrastructure intruding onto the beach. This is evident in Source A (found on the next page) a photograph, displaying Collaroy during the early 1900s.

The negative consequences of erosion were virtually non-existent because there was no infrastructure on the shore of the beach. As shown in the image, the sand was expansive and naturally progressed into

Not only has urban development faced damage from these coastal changes, however by changing coastal stability, development itself has increased erosion. Buildings, roads and homes built too close to the beach have become vulnerable to erosion due to extreme weather conditions. Furthermore, during storms, large waves cause severe erosion to this beach. Consequently, wave patterns change as they are are not naturally rolling onto the beach. Instead, they are smashing against built surfaces/structures (causing more erosion) and then are being violently pushed back.

Major erosion has been occurring in Collaroy for nearly 100 years; Major storms in 1913/14, 1944/5, 1966/67 and 1974 saw buildings damaged or washed away starting with the Collaroy Surf Lifesaving Club and Dressing Sheds in the summer of 1913/14. Since the 1920s, the council has still continued to allow massive over-development even after houses and structures had been damaged and washed away. Source B is a photograph from 1966 showing destruction caused to infrastructure as a result of building houses too close to the waterline, in spite of the risk of

Source E displays a large wire fence that collapsed as well as damaged chairs and umbrellas sprawled about. Furthermore, Source F shows two images of the destruction of a property. The cream coloured steel fence has been completely demolished, along with a wooden structure. A rusted steel structure (in the second image) is laying on a horizontal angle and pieces of tree trunks are also clustered into a dishevelled pile.

Source E: (primary data)

Photograph of damage at Collaroy Beach, April 2018

Source F: (primary data)

Photographs (below) of a house and its fence destruction at Collaroy Beach, April 2018

Source G (below) exhibits tree damage in front of a property, also surrounding it is junk and destruction. The tree roots are exposed and it looks like it will fall over if it is not removed. It is a danger hazard that could cause even more disruption to the surrounding area. This demonstrates that by human’s building so close, the natural environment (tree) has no room to grow and is now positioned on the steep formation which continues to erode.

Source G: (primary data)

Photograph of tree damage at Collaroy Beach, April