Torrential run-off from new builds swallowing a family’s legacy

For many Australians, a home by the water represents the quintessential dream.

However, for one New South Wales South Coast homeowner, that dream is rapidly transforming into a property nightmare as his residence of three decades slowly succumbs to the relentless erosion of a once-tranquil creek.

Bob, a disability support worker from the Shellharbour area, is watching in despair as the land beneath his home of 30 years literally slips away.

What was once a gentle babbling brook behind his property has, in recent years, become a raging torrent, aggressively eating away at his backyard.

“The whole block of land is slowly slipping towards the creek,” he tells A Current Affair, noting he has also discovered cracks in the foundation of his home as the ground continues to soften.

“Now it’s got to the stage where the front of the house is breaking apart from the foundations.”

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Bob says a raging creek behind his home is causing extensive damage to his NSW South Coast property. Source: A Current Affair

The raging creek behind Bob’s home. Source: A Current Affair

The homeowner attributes the escalating issue to a new housing development constructed uphill from his property and claims that during rainfall, a deluge of stormwater now storms past his bowing fence line, exacerbating the erosion. Bob, his wife Karen, and son Tyson are deeply concerned they will soon see internal cracks, and ultimately, lose their home entirely if urgent action isn’t taken to halt the landslip.

Footage from a recent downpour reportedly shows a stormwater drain overflowing, resembling a burst pipe, underscoring the sheer volume of water impacting the area.

The problem isn’t isolated to Bob’s property.

His neighbour, David, has also witnessed metres of his embankment disappear and large cracks emerge in his shed.

“I’ve been here 19 years, and this creek has gradually eroded away the bank to the point where we’ve only got one and a half metres of ground here now,” he says, adding “some sink holes” have also appeared in his backyard, which he admits is a “worry”.

Cracks are forming in the foundation of Bob’s home. Source: A Current Affair

Bob says the issue arose after a new housing development was constructed up the hill from his property. Source: A Current Affair

After his insurance claim for damage to his home and pool has been denied, Bob seeks assistance from the local council.

He claims that following a visit to his property, the Mayor of Shellharbour City Council promises disaster relief funding, which has yet to materialise.

In a statement to A Current Affair, a council spokesperson says the “region has experienced five significant rainfall and flood events” over the past three years.

These, they say, have “placed extraordinary pressure on local drainage systems and impacted this area”.

They also acknowledge that Bob’s property and the adjacent creek have been identified as flood-prone in Horsley Creek Flood Studies since 2011.

“Shellharbour City Council understands how distressing flooding can be for residents and has been working closely with this resident since their concerns were raised. Council has undertaken localised maintenance on the stormwater network in the street and has carried out bush care work along the creek to help improve drainage performance where possible.”

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