Back in 2017, when we first reported on the die back of dune vegetation at Jones Beach and other concerns about the beach narrowing, Council said the issue of what vegetation was appropriate would be found in a comprehensive Coastal Management Plan (CMP) it was developing.

Four years later, the Plan is still in development and not expected to be completed until the end of 2022.

The CMP will guide dune management in terms of defining the current and expected hazards for beach erosion/recession, tidal inundation and coastal inundation (storm impacts) and give Council and the community a science-based assessment for ongoing management decisions.

Council is currently finalising Stage 2 of the process, a hazards identification and opportunities report.

Once this is done, they will move to look at management options for the identified hazards, with community input being invited.

Councillor Mark Way with nearby residents John Hansen, Bill Wells and Ray McMillan

Tired of the limbo, Councillor Mark Way is continuing to support residents across from the beach to have the area ‘cleaned up’.

“My view is put the right vegetation in – if you have that you will get everything,” says Cllr Way.

“Everyone will be able to see the beach, if you put the right vegetation there.”

By this Cllr Way is referring to the list of plants added to the Jones Beach Management Plan in 2014, drawn from the respected Dune Management Manual, which does not include the plants utilised in the original planting.

The tallest on the list grow to two metres.

“The whole issue has been very divisive,” says neighbour John Hansen.

“People still think it was poisoned, when testing showed it wasn’t.

“What you are seeing here now is a natural phenomena due to the lifespan of the trees, but they don’t want to listen to that.”

He and other beachfront neighbours think the wrong vegetation was planted back then, and want it to be returned to spinifex grass, as it was when Ray McMillan bought his house 39 years ago.

What they are proposing is known as the Woonona solution, where Wollongong Council removed higher coastal plantings in favour of grasses.

“Council should not wait for completion of a study to attend to this section of Jones Beach,” says Cllr Way.

“It could be attended to as a stage one option that would mainly only need a gang of maintenance staff and a truck for a few days.”

Councillor Kathy Rice agrees that, if the soil is appropriate, something should be planted there but is concerned at the idea of clearing the dead wood which provides habitat and not replacing like with like.

Councillor Kathy Rice with some large dead trees further south along the beach

“The current plan doesn’t protect the tall trees at the moment as replanting is from species under two metres, and it is interesting only the taller trees are dying,” says Cllr Rice.

“This makes it a really difficult situation, as there’s no disincentive for bringing the lives of those trees to an end.

“I ultimately believe that there should be some taller trees in there as well, but perhaps planted less densely than they had been previously, but we will have to wait for the new Plan of Management for this to happen.

“Those who are against the taller trees are looking to reduce the height for their purposes rather than the purposes the vegetation was put there are the start.

“The vegetation was put there to protect their assets, but they can’t understand that it is in their interests if it affects their view.”

Council’s response is given below.

Council cites financial constraints

Kiama Council provided this statement on the issues: Council acknowledges and is aware of the ongoing issues of dune and vegetation management and vandalism at Jones Beach (and Werri Beach). We know that this is a difficult and polarising issue in our community.

“We acknowledge that work needs to be done here, in consultation with the community. We are committed to undertaking this work and being as transparent and open about the process as possible,” said Mike Dowd, Council’s Director Engineering and Works. 

“However, we do have resourcing constraints. Currently our crews are committed elsewhere, to areas the community has told us they want us to focus on: managing parks and gardens.

“We do undertake general management at our beaches and beach reserves – cutting grass, emptying bins and cleaning the facilities. We do not currently have budget or dedicated resources for surveillance, vandalism management or regeneration in these areas.

“We have heard the community’s concerns and understand this is a matter that needs attention.

“Therefore we will be proposing that the new council allocate budget to review its current plans of management (POMs) for its beaches, taking into consideration the information coming from the CMP once finalised, and undertake maintenance and rehabilitation activities consistent with its current POMs.”