Plans have been submitted to address coastal erosion concerns at a Smith’s property on the edge of Harrington Sound.

The planning application for Palmetto Gardens, submitted this year, proposed remediation works to address undercutting of the cliff face caused by tides and storms.

An assessment of the foreshore area by Entech Ltd said that continuous erosion within the tidal zone had caused “extensive undermining” in several portions of the coastline around the property.

“Large caverns/overhangs are present as a result of continuous wave action over the past decades, particularly during storms,” the assessment said.

“Further, where discontinuities and fractures are present in the rock face, they have been further weakened by high-pressure jets of water (ie, during storm events) which shoot up through the narrow vents and cause further separation in the rock face.

“To date, while there is evidence of property loss, there is no immediate risk to the existing residential units. Upon cursory review, all exterior walls were found to be in acceptable condition without evidence of settlement or deterioration of the foundations.

“It should, however, be noted that continued erosion may pose a risk in due course if left unaddressed.”

The firm recommended that the area be regularly assessed after storms, but proposed that some protective measures be put in place to mitigate erosion.

In addition to the removal of invasive species on the top of the cliff to prevent their roots from weakening the rock face, Entech recommended stabilising undermined and cavernous areas with a boulder revetment, essentially sealing the caverns with a rock wall.

“The revetment will assist by absorbing energy from oncoming waves and prevent successive erosion and collapse of the area,” the report said.