Nearly every beach in Oz has some sand-dune as a barrier but not at Wamberal near Newcastle. Houses are built nearly at the dune-top and surf normally reaches the base of the dune-cliff in king tides.  The cliff is held by beach grass and is weakened by heavy stairways down to 'their' beach.  Each year the sea-level rises 3-4mm and the slope of 1:8 means the equilibrium point moves inside the dune about 30mm/year. Storms have removed much of the grass and it hasn't had time to re-establish on the near-vertical, bare sand. The weight of 12m. high sand then is loaded on the wet 'quicksand' base. Recent loads of rocks also are on wet sand and subsidence is seen.

The beach isn't a footpath, it's the edge of the Pacific Ocean. King Canute noted that the surf won't go away.
But surf-housing will.

An interesting part of the dispute here is that parts of the area were never approved by the local council.

The Council refused building in the area claiming that there was severe risk of subsidance and sea damage. The builders took the case to the state government who approved building overriding the risk assesments. Now the Local government are reluctant to take responsibility.

Big part of the problem is that the local residents cannot get approval to even do their own protection work - this is just wrong.

Horrible situation all along the coast and something badly needs to be done.