Work is about to start on helping nature rebuild the eroded sand dunes between Main Beach and Clarkes Beach at Byron Bay.
During November two diggers will be working on the beach for approximately seven days, moving sand from the tidal zone and rebuilding the sand dunes in the area between the Byron Bay Surf Club and the Beach Byron Café at Clarkes Beach.
It’s a process called ‘nature assisted beach enhancement’ or more commonly, ‘beach scraping’ or ‘sand harvesting’, and it’s a proven, low-risk, cost-effective management strategy to rebuild dunes that have been damaged by erosion.
Chloe Dowsett, Council’s Coast and Biodiversity Coordinator said the aim is to take some of the sand that has returned to the beach and move it to the dune area where it will be fenced and planted with vegetation.
“Locals will have noticed the large amount of sand that has built up in the bay area and over many, many months, waves and wind will eventually push this sand up the beach to reform the dunes,” Ms Dowsett said.
“We are planning to help fast-track this natural process by using machinery to move the sand further up the beach,” she said.
“This will not only mean an immediate positive impact on the dune profile between Main Beach and Clarkes Beach but because the tidal area will be flatter, sand should continue to build up at a faster rate.
“We are helping what is a natural process and this work is scientifically regarded as having minimal environmental impact both on the beach and marine environments, and on neighbouring beaches,” Ms Dowsett said.
“It will also help protect the dunes from future weather events, create dune habitat for plants and animals and help in protecting cultural objects that may be buried within the dune system,” she said.
A ‘Review of Environmental Factors’ has been completed and approvals are pending from DPI-Fisheries/Marine Parks.
Council has been consulting, for many months, with relevant land managers, public authorities, key groups, and Traditional Owners about the project.
Once the sand is in place the dunes will be planted with native species that are appropriate for the area, focussing on fast growing ground cover species such as Spinifex and Beach Bean.
To protect the dunes and the vegetation, the area will be fenced and access paths to the beach will be repaired.
Council has previously done beach scraping projects in the north of the Shire at New Brighton and South Golden Beaches.
“We last scraped those beaches in 2017 and the dunes there are in very good condition with a terrific covering of native vegetation,” Ms Dowsett said.
“This project is a positive environmental rehabilitation project aiming to improve dune habitat, public safety, access and beach amenity” she said.
The $170,00 project jointly funded by Council and a grant from the State Government through the Coastal and Estuary Grants Program.
