As a follow-up to the story on the dunes at Jones Beach in our last issue (Jones Beach dunes in limbo), we look at the situation at Werri Beach.

Ailee Calderbank, who has been convening Werri Beach’s Dunecare group for 20 years, says that the current vegetation (which was planted at Werri at the same time as Jones Beach)

is appropriate, but not as appreciated as it should be.

“There are four levels of the dune, with grasses in the incipient dune coming up from the beach, then the Acacia in the fore-dune, the locally occurring coastal tea tree in the mid-dune and the coastal Banksia in the hind-dune,” she says.

“They are the basic backbone of what should be there, and for years we have been trying increase the biodiversity, because once you get good canopy coverage and a healthy system you can get a larger range of plants in there.

“If you look around Mollymook and the Shoalhaven you will see system working really well.”

The stabilising vegetation

Ms Calderbank says that without the vegetation stabilising the dune, the potential for erosion and infrastructure damage is high, and growing.

Unfortunately, over the last 20 years, she says that at Werri Beach – with her one day a month and the efforts of her small band of helpers – the vegetation has been going backwards due to invasive weeds, their plantings being pulled out and malicious damage to substantial trees along the dunes.

“Areas where there was vegetation no longer have substantial vegetation. There is only one bay where I would say there is more vegetation than when I started.

“Many of the 24 bays have lost trees and undergrowth and are substantially weeds now, largely South African invasive species and asparagus fern.

“We used to have plantings days with Kiama High students until too many got pulled out.”

Ms Calderbank believes that clearing the dunes in favour of grasses and low level plants, as suggested by some, is not an option.

“Trees are the background of the dune system as their roots keep the dune together.

“It would destabilise the dune, displace native animals and birds, and cause more of a risk of inundation during king tides and east coast lows.”

As she sees it, “Plants are the easiest and cheapest way to slow down erosion.”

Despite their small numbers, Dunecare is responsible for the whole length of Werri, even to the extent of bringing water from home for their new plants.

Dunecare: weeding and planting

They have appreciated the help from other local groups, such as the Lions Club and the Men’s Shed at various times.

The regular poisoning of the large trees to improve views is disheartening, and Ms Calderbank is in favour of measures put in place by other councils, such as bill boards being erected where the trees were while their replacements grow.

The Plan of Management for Werri Beach came out in 2001, and does not contain the amendment made in the Jones Beach Plan of Management that limits replacement trees to ones that do not grow past two metres.

“I also think there should be a community education program about civic awareness and the importance of vegetation to continued human existence.”

While Council signs near poisoned trees warn of substantial fines, most vandalism is occurring gradually and covertly at times where it cannot be observed.

An offer by the Bowling Club to tidy up the area across the road from them was rejected by Council, for the same reasons Ms Calderbank espouses.

“We would never take dead wood off a site as it has habitat value for lizards and small birds,” she says.

“Natural areas aren’t naturally tidy.”

As reported in our last issue, Council is in the process of developing a Coastal Management Plan, which 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.

It also said there was no budget for surveillance, vandalism management or regeneration at Jones or Werri Beaches. It is proposed that money for reviewing new plans of management for the beaches be included in the next budget.

If you would like to join the volunteers that meet on the first Saturday of the month, email [email protected]