Surf life savers in Sawtell now need to travel two kilometres to get their gear from the club to the sand.
Worsening coastal erosion has wreaked havoc with beach access paths, forcing clubbies to take the long way round.
“It means we haven't got rapid response. We can't get down there quickly,” said Adam Newman, a keen surfer and secretary of the Sawtell Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC).
What’s the problem?: Coastal erosion, also known as shoreline retreat, is the loss of coastal land due to waves, currents, tides, storm impacts and sea level rise.
While beaches lose and gain sand naturally, significant episodes of beach erosion are occurring due to severe coastal storms, surges and flooding.
According to the Australian Climate Service (ACS), satellite observations indicate 22 percent of Australia’s sand or vegetation coastlines have significantly grown or retreated since 1988.
The background: In Sawtell, sand has been ripped away from the dunes by big swells in recent years, leaving a steep embankment restricting access for people and vehicles to the beach.
“We ended up with a huge drop-off,” Newman said.
A viewing platform built on the edge of the dune was also damaged - and halved in size - when the pylons holding it up were undermined.
The response: Relocatable stairs were later built, restoring access for beachgoers.
However, they were installed on the path traditionally used to get SLSC vehicles - carrying rescue gear - to the sand.
That means there is a set of stairs and a walking track for beach access, but no route suitable for vehicles.
“It is fantastic for beach users. It's not so good for those delivering surf life saving resources to the beach, because we can't get a vehicle down this track,” Newman said.
New plan: Surf club members now take all their equipment by road to a nearby boat ramp with beach access, and drive it up the sand. The trip is about two kilometres.
“The main concern we've got is that our emergency response time is already very constrained because of beach access,” Newman said.
The practicalities: The SLSC patrols the beach during weekends and on public holidays, while City of Coffs Harbour lifeguards patrol Monday to Friday from September to April.
Coastal erosion has also impacted council’s lifesaving facilities at Sawtell, damaging a lifeguard tower in 2025.
Installed last year, the new tower is made from aluminum and designed to be relocatable, should the beach retreat further.
Council planning: Compared to some other regions of the state, council’s Planning and Communities Director Ian Fitzgibbon said the Coffs Coast is “quite fortunate” to be protected from the most severe impacts of coastal erosion.
“Much of our coastline is in public ownership and has limited development or very limited critical infrastructure,” he said.
However, Fitzgibbon said the council’s methodology was to “observe” the changes to the beach and “adapt” its planning to create more resilient facilities.
For example, the location of the new lifeguard tower was adjusted to a location better protected from future erosion, while its construction allows it to be relocated if required.
What’s next: Coastal erosion across the Coffs Coast will be considered in the development of the council's Open Coast - Coastal Management Program.
Technical studies are being conducted to analyse and evaluate key risks, vulnerabilities and opportunities for the Coffs Harbour coastline.