Horrocks jetty gets battering in weekend storm, locals calling for shire action to reinforce structure

The Horrocks community is dismayed at the damage to its beloved jetty during the stormy weather over the weekend, leaving the structure and beach looking worse for wear.

With more than 30mm of heavy rainfall over Saturday and Sunday and strong wind gusts up to 61km/h on Sunday morning, the Horrocks jetty was no match for the wild conditions.

Horrocks local Sandra Stock-Standen said prior to the wet and wild weather over the weekend, the jetty was already looking a little wobbly.

Now with powerful water surges having gone through, the jetty is sporting broken planks, a skewed appearance and shaky structure.

Ms Stock-Standen said the damage was “pretty crazy” and locals were hoping it would be fixed by the shire as soon as possible.

“The pilings underneath the jetty have moved and all the boards on top have come off, apart from a few still clinging on,” she said.

“The whole beach itself has just been washed away, but luckily there are a few sandbags there to try and help protect the dunes.”

According to Ms Stock-Standen, the sandbags were first put down near the beach by the shire after the toilet block was nearly lost. a couple of years ago.

She said there needed to be more of a plan in place for the small beachside community in reinforcing and protecting the beach and structural integrity of the jetty during wild weather.

“I don’t know how safe the jetty will be now, and I think it will probably have to be restructured,” Ms Stock-Standen said.

“It was probably time for a new, stronger jetty as we get higher tides and stronger currents over time, it’s important to have a structure which is safe and reliable.”

Ms Stock-Standen said the water had washed so far up the beach it reached the footpath, with a lot of the damage “terrible to see”.

Locals took to the community notice board to share photos and videos of the damage, with many calling for urgent help to reinforce the structure of the beloved jetty and beach.

A Horrocks local confirmed residents would be meeting with the shire of Northampton during the week to discuss the damage and a plan to restore the jetty to its former glory.

Northampton shire president Liz Sudlow said it was too early to say what the plan would be going forward but confirmed the jetty was insured.

She said the jetty was an iconic part of Horrocks and the shire recognised the importance in repairing it.