Success for Byron Bay Dune Recovery Project

Published on 14 February 2023

A report on the Dune Recovery Project, which aimed to restore the eroded sand dunes and create a more natural dune formation between Clarkes Beach and Main Beach at Byron Bay, shows that the first stage/phase of the project was a great success.

In November 2022 heavy equipment was on the beach for a week, scraping sand from the tidal zone to rebuild the dunes, a process that mimicked and sped up the natural process for dune restoration.

Chloe Dowsett, Council’s Coast and Biodiversity Coordinator, said if left to nature that process may have taken many years or even decades, and already there is evidence that the project has been very successful.

“We can already see the sand dunes starting to regenerate with signs of plant growth and germination and the next nine months will focus on more plantings, monitoring and maintenance work,” Ms Dowsett said.

The dunes will be tested over time as to whether they can withstand future impacts of storm events, as these beaches experience fluctuating sand supply around the Cape.

The summary report on the Main and Clarkes Beach Dune Recovery Project is going to Council’s Coast and ICOLL Advisory Committee today (Tuesday 14 February) and is now available on Council’s website.

“The report not only takes into account the restoration and rehabilitation of the sand dunes, but the positive impact on the dune ecosystem which is an important habitat for birds and animals,” Ms Dowsett said.

Other achievements include:

“We hope beachgoers recognise the work that has been put into restoring the dunes and urge them to help us continue the revegetation process, by staying off the dunes and sticking to the designated beach accessways,” Ms Dowsett said.

“Some rainbow bee-eater chicks recently needed to be rescued from a collapsed dune on a nearby beach, due to people walking on dunes, which is really disheartening.

“Please, we really need people to stay off the dunes,” she said.

The $165,000 project was funded by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment’s Coastal and Estuary Grants Program and Council.

“This project is a demonstration of land managers, public authorities, key groups, and Traditional Owners coming together to achieve some great outcomes for the environment and our community,” Ms Dowsett said.

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