5.2 Contemporary Management of Coastal Dune Ecosystems

Current Management of the Stockton Bight Sand Dunes

For many years, the Stockton Bight Sand Dunes was managed by Newcastle City Council(Southern End) and Port Stephens Council (Northern End).

Newcastle City Council still manages a small portion of the southern end of the sand dunes and have predominantly been involved in the management strategies of Dune Restoration and Stabilisation, and Dune Protection. The reason for this is that the southern end of the bight is highly susceptible to erosion due to the break wall. See the figure below.

Source: Micahel Osborne: Greens Counsellor for Newcastle City Council (2009) Stockton Beach Coastal Zone Management Study> Viewed 29^th August 2009 <http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QHaafJ9oorA/Si8vHzI5awI/AAAAAAAAAos/XfHRqFNkeMA/s1600-h/stockton.jpg>

Another aspect of Newcastle's management approach, is that much of the area NCC is responsible for is surrounded by housing. Consequently, the beach erosion is threatening the housing thus NCC focuses its management on ensuring the beach continues its function for storm protection. NCC help rebuild and stabilise the beach through the use of boulders along key points of the beach and it is looking at implementing a $31.5 million Beach Renourishment program to rebuild the beach up hopefully with assistance of the NSW state government. In terms of protection strategies, NCC also utilises strategies such as fenced off areas, walkways and general signage.

Port Stephens Council was responsible for many years of the Northern part of the Stockton Bight Sand Dunes. Under the council, the Stockton Bight Sand dunes were predominantly usedfor recreational use with a beach permit system. For a nominal fee any body with the means could use the beach and hind dune area. Consequently, the human impacts on the dune ecosystem and the Aboriginal heritage were extensive.

However, in February 2007 after long negotiations the Stockton Bight Sand Dunes became the only Ecosystem in NSW that is managed by both traditional Owners and Contemporary Managers. This type of management is called Aboriginal co-management

Since February 2007 the major management Strategy for the Stockton Sand Bight Sand Dunes is under the Worimi Conservation Lands Co- Management Agreement.

Worimi Conservation Lands Co-management Agreement

In February 2007, the New South Wales Government granted Crown lands at Stockton Bight to the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) to be leased back to the Government as three conservation reserves collectively named Worimi Conservation Lands.

The 4200-hectare Worimi Conservation Lands are made up of three reserves:

What is a Lease-Back Agreement?

The Aboriginal co-Management of the Stockton Bight Sand Dunes has been made possible due to a lease back agreement.The National Parks and Wildlife Act and the Aboriginal Land Rights Act set up a process by which some parks can be returned to a local Aboriginal land council to hold on behalf of the Aboriginal owners. The park can then leased back to the NSW Government under mutually agreed conditions, with the lease payments to be spent on the care, control and management of the park.

A board of management cares for the park. The Aboriginal owners have a majority representation on the board, but there are also representatives of the NPWS, local government, a conservation group and adjoining landholders.

Worimi National Park

National parks are areas of land protected for their unspoiled landscapes, outstanding or representative ecosystems, native plant and animal species and places of natural or cultural significance.

In addition to their role in conservation, national parks provide opportunities for public appreciation and enjoyment, sustainable visitor use and scientific research

Worimi State Conservation Area

State conservation areas are lands reserved to protect and conserve significant or representative ecosystems, landforms, natural phenomena or places of cultural significance, while providing opportunities for sustainable visitation, enjoyment, use of buildings and research.

The principal difference between the management, objectives and principles of national parks and state conservation areas is that mineral and petroleum exploration and mining may be permitted in state conservation areas.

Regional Park

Regional parks are lands reserved to protect and conserve areas in natural or modified landscapes which are suitable for sustainable public recreation and enjoyment. They offer open spaces for cultural and recreational activities (including dog walking in some parks) which may not be permitted in national parks, state conservation areas or nature reserves.

Worimi Conservation Lands has set aside an area for Recreational Vehicle Use.

Recreational Vehicle Area.

The Worimi Conservation Lands Recreational Vehicle Area (RVA) provides increased,recreational opportunities for RV operators. The RVA retains 4 kms of beach front south of LavisLane to the 'Sygna Wreck', and now includes the high dune area south-west of the Lavis Lane entrance. There are two vehicle permits available for the Worimi Conservation Lands (WCL): a Beach Vehicle Permit (BVP) for 4WD access to Stockton Beach; and a Recreational Vehicle Area Permit (RVAP) enabling RTA conditionally registered vehicles to access the Recreational Vehicle Area of the WCL

Techniques Used by Contemporary Managers

There are two main approaches to contemporary management of Coastal Sand Dune ecosystems: Dune protection and dune restoration and stabilisation each having numerous strategies.

Dune Protection

Dune restoration can be very costly. It is much better to manage existing dunes in ways that protect them from damage. Some dune protection strategies are outlined below.

Landuse Controls

• The destruction of dune systems for residential and commercial develop­ment remains one of the most disruptive activities in the coastal environment. Stricter planning laws can help reduce this problem.
• In Australia, local councils have the authority to decide what kind of developments are to be allowed in certain areas. These zoning powers mean that councils have the power to reject a development proposal that would modify or degrade dune ecosystems.
• A reduction in the amount of building in the active areas of the dune system, particularly the foredune, would enable the dune systems to function in a more natural state.
• There would also be an added economic benefit, as sea walls and other emergency measures needed to protect property during storms would no longer be required.

Fencing

• The other major cause of human-induced change in dune systems is the trampling created by beach users. The use of fencing, access ways and education programs helps protect dunes from this sort of impact.
• Dune fencing involves the construction of fences around the area. These fences help to stop people from trampling dune vegetation. This is especially important when the vegetation is immature and fragile.
• The fences are normally constructed of wire and treated timber poles. They allow wind and sand to pass through and ensure that the visual impact of the fencing is reduced.

Fenced Access Ways

• For fencing to be effective, people must still be able to access the beach. Specially designed access ways enable this to occur in a managed way.
• Access ways are paths constructed through the dunes. They are usually fenced to protect dune vegetation:
• These paths normally link car parks or pedestrian zones to popular parts of the beach.

Board and Chain Paths

• Trampling can also be reduced by using board and chain paths in access­ways. These walkways are constructed using timber slats joined by lengths of chain. As they are flexible, they can conform to the shape of the dune.
• The timber slats help to reduce the effects of wind erosion on the exposed sand.
• It is even possible to construct board and chain paths so that four-wheel drive vehicles can cross dunes and access the beach.

Mats and Netting

• Mats and netting are effective at protecting exposed sand surfaces. Coarse netting and mats, properly secured, protect the sand surface but do not collect much sand.
• They are best used to protect newly planted dune grasses and seedlings.

Signage

• Signage on or near beaches has become an increasingly common feature of the coastline, Often it is an essential component of a rehabilitation project, especially if it advises users of potential hazards.
• Signage can serve several purposes and 'it can be designed as a temporary or lasting component of the rehabilitated dune landscape.
• Most signage is used to enhance public safety, to control undesirable behaviour or to educate the community by raising awareness and understanding. Unnecessary signage is poor signage.
• Signs serve to control public movement and behaviour. This may be to make it easier for users to find their way to the beach, to encourage use of newly established facilities or to protect sensitive areas and resources.

Dune Restoration and Stabilisation

The strategies used to restore and stabilise dunes include the following.

Dune Reconstruction

• One technique involves the use of earthmoving equipment to form the into a more aerodynamic shape, thereby reducing the ability of the wind to carry away sand.
• Reshaping is effective because the site can be manipulated to the ideal slope, which allows vegetation to become established more easily than on very steep, natural slopes.
• However, unless the site is well vegetated, the dune will not be able to resist wind erosion and storm wave attack.

Sand Fences

• Another technique is to trap moving sand with sand fences with panels of woven material, which allows for the passage of air but traps airborne sand.
• Sand fences slow sand movement by reducing the in areas immediate around them.
• While the fences are very effective in trapping windblown sand, once they are buried they have no further effect on sand movement.

Revegetation

• The most effective long-term method of dune stabilisation is through the use of vegetation.
• Vegetation is the least expensive, most durable, most aesthetically appealing and only self-maintaining technique available.
• Dune plants are especially effective at trapping and holding wind-borne sand. Their growth produces a rough surface, which reduces the speed and strength of wind near the ground. This reduces wind erosion at the sand surface. The leaves of plants interrupt the movement of sand by saltation and surface creep.
• The most common method for revegetation is to develop a plant succession on the coastal dunes over a number of years. This is similar to the way plants colonise an undisturbed dune under natural conditions.
• Revegetation is a costly and requires of work to be able to do. It is most commonly carried out by community groups, such as Dune Care. Volunteers from these groups give up their weekends and holidays to protect dunes and other coastal landforms.

Dealing with weeds

Various control techniques are available for treating weeds, These are usually grouped into physical. chemical and biological controls,

• Physical weed control techniques can range from use of machinery for clearing major infestations to very labour intensive techniques such as removing them by hand.
• Chemical- control techniques can also range from the broad-scale use of spray machinery including aircraft to the selective but labour intensive use of backpack sprays or injection implements.
• Biological Control techniques, although attracting growing interest, is only available for a very limited number of plants with variable success- see the Bitou Bush case sample in your worksheets.