King tides erode beaches

A 1.69 metre king tide has this morning caused heavy coastal erosion on Sawtell beaches.

Mark McClurg

BEACHCOMBERS have been astounded by the coastal erosion caused by king tides at Sawtell this morning.

A 1.69 metre tide at 9.11am saw the ocean crashing at various points against the sand dunes on main, Murrays and Boambee beaches.

Well established trees have been washed away, others have had their roots exposed and large sections of dunal systems and native grasses have been swept out to sea.  

The latest erosion comes after heavy storms battered the coastline in recent weeks.

Resident Mark McClurg was walking the beach this morning as a few new trees collapsed under the inundation.

"It's horrible to see this erosion and I personally think that the council needs to explore measures to protect our coastline from rising sea levels," Mr McClurg said.

"Locals living behind this sand dune were also looking on in horror and disbelief with some saying that they have never seen it this bad in the 40 years that they have lived there," he said.

The equally big high will be followed by an equally small low tide of 0.16 of a metre at 3.33pm.