A massive landslide caused by heavy rains struck Palm Beach this week, sending a six-tonne sandstone slab crushing a parked car.
The silver sedan was crushed under an enormous rock on Whale Beach Road after the landslide on Wednesday. While no one was injured, the incident has left locals shaken and fuming at nearby construction projects they believe are destabilising the area.
With up to 10 days of steady rainfall forecast across New South Wales, the incident has heightened safety concerns in the coastal suburb plagued by repeated landslips during heavy weather. Many residents were quick to blame the landslide on erosion caused by extensive construction projects occurring on the area’s cliffs and slopes.
“Many dwellings are being built into the rock face which affects groundwater flow and increases erosion,” said a resident.
“This is the result of hacking into the land to create homes that won’t fit without destruction of the environment,” another said.
However, a spokesperson for the Northern Beaches Council disputed claims that construction caused the landslide, stating “there are no construction sites directly adjoining or uphill of the landslip site that could have contributed to the landslips.” The council says its geotechnical experts assessed the area and implemented precautions like a concrete catch basin.
As the severe weather system pummels the NSW coast, many in Palm Beach remain on edge about the possibility of additional landslides in the coming days. Residents are calling on authorities to restrict over-development in the erosion-prone area before further incidents put lives at risk.
Published 3-May-2024
