Corrimal Beach. PHOTOS: Warren & Diana Ackary.
BULLI High School and Waniora Public School next door would be swamped if a land-threat tsunami hit the east coast of Australia, new maps released by the NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) show.
The maps show evacuation areas in the event of a tsunami, and reveal that the entire coastline eat of the South Coast Railway between Campbell Street Woonona and Bellambi Lane would be swallowed by a massive eathquake generated wave.
While the likelihood of a tsunami on the east coast of Australia is low, the maps show the areas where residents and workers would have to move to higher ground in the event of a land-threat tsunami.
The evacuation area in the event of a tsunami would also include most of Thirroul east of the railway line, with the exception of McCauley’s Hill.
Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott said the NSW SES is the combat agency for flood, storm and tsunami and the release of the mapping is part of its work to build preparedness and community resilience.
The map also shows most of Woonona, east of the South Coast Railway would alo need to be evacuated in the event of a tsunami.
“Importantly, the maps show areas which would be evacuated and not areas which would definitely be inundated with water. Emergency workers will use these maps for further tsunami response planning,” Mr Elliott said.
Marine-threat tsunamis occur once about every six years, but are usually only dangerous to swimmers and boaters because of the dangerous currents. There is no record of a land-threat tsunami in Australia since European settlement.
The map shows Westmacott Parade, Beacon Avenue and Ursuala Road at Bulli would go under in the event of a land-threat earthquake generated wave.
NSW SES Acting Commissioner Greg Newton said a tsunami could be a series of waves caused by an earthquake, submarine eruptions or coastal landslides.
“If there is a threat of land inundation from a tsunami, move to higher ground at least 10 meters above sea level or, if possible, a kilometer away from the coast and rivers. Be sure to listen to your local radio station for information, warnings and advice,” Acting Commissioner Newton said.
The online maps are available at
www.tsunamisafe.com.au. You can enter your postcode to view the area where you live or work and explore other areas that would be evacuated on the NSW coast.
Large areas around Bellambi and East Corrimal would also be under threat.
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About Mick Roberts
A journalist, writer and historian, Mick Roberts specialises in Australian cultural history, particularly associated with the Australian hotel and liquor industry. Mick has had an interest in revealing the colourful story of Australian pubs and associated industries for over 30 years. He is working on a comprehensive history of the hotel and liquor industry in the Illawarra region of NSW. Besides writing a number of history books, Mick managed several community newspapers. He has been editor of the Wollongong Northern News, The Bulli Times, The Northern Times, The Northern Leader and The Local - all located in the Wollongong region. As a journalist he has worked for Rural Press, Cumberland (News Limited), the Sydney city newspaper, City News, and Torch Publications based in Canterbury Bankstown, NSW.
The Bulli & Clifton Times 
no surprise – just about the whole Illawarra coastline is in the Tsunami path
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Posted by Kerrie Anne Christian | June 4, 2016, 12:21 pm