Protecting the coast doesn't have to look like a concrete wall. Surfside's new levee is now complete, blending into the reserve and helping to protect low-lying areas from coastal flooding.
The 190-metre long and 10-metre wide raised embankment was built using 2,700 tonnes of rock and topped with sand and soil. Project manager Paul Pomfret said favourable weather conditions and tides helped keep the project on track and within budget.
"A lovely addition we were able to achieve at the end was a pathway through the reserve," Mr Pomfret said.
"We've turfed the inland side and planted natives along the top, so as it grows in, the levee will sit more naturally in the foreshore."
As coastal storms become more frequent, Mr Pomfret said the Surfside levee forms part of Council's broader coastal protection program.
"Now Surfside levee is finished, the next focus is on the seawall at Caseys Beach to protect Beach Road," Mr Pomfret said.
Mr Pomfret said the existing seawall at Caseys Beach has come under increasing pressure in recent years, with more easterly lows pushing water up and over Beach Road.
"The wall isn't holding up the way it needs to anymore, and if we don't act there's a real risk we could lose sections of Beach Road," Mr Pomfret said.
Crews will use 21,000 tonnes of new and existing rock to build the new wall, designed to last 30 years with the option to raise it higher if needed in future. Mr Pomfret said the $7 million project was no quick and easy job.
"We'll use pumps to clear the water away so we can dig down and place geotechnical fabric and rock properly under the beach," Mr Pomfret said.
"In some sections where the wall gets hammered by the ocean, we'll be digging up to two-metres deep. Smaller rock will be layered first to reduce voids and help stop sand washing out from underneath, preventing the wall from slumping or collapse.
"Then the larger rocks will go on top to take the brunt of the waves. Some existing rocks will stay in place while others will be moved around like a big puzzle so it all fits into the design."
The seawall is scheduled to take around 9-12 months to complete. Beach access on either end will be available, but not past the worksite. For safety, Council urges the community to follow all signs and stay clear of active work zones, machinery and trucks. Sign up to Caseys Beach updates.
Council has invested $1million into the $12 million Batemans Bay coastal protection works project jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments.
