Coastline Under Threat
The king tides that threatened a number of houses at Toogoom shows that, even here in Hervey Bay, the decisions by Council to allow housing developments along the beachfront is short-sighted to say the least.
Of course, here the danger is not quite as dramatic as it is along other parts of Australia’s east coast where major storms have threatened homes in Noosa, Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour and Narrabeen.
Just because a portion of coastline hasn’t changed in living memory doesn’t mean that it will stay that way forever. Allowing building development close to the shoreline ignores the fact that the shoreline is dynamic and can change in a matter of hours.
Councils should be alert to the potential hazards and refuse to allow building applications that come too close to the beach. If they don’t then the next time a major storm arrives we could all be paying to save someone’s home and their wonderful sea view.
Let’s hope Hervey Bay City Council heeds the warning that those residents along Toogoom Beach received.
