Council to look at dune erosion

A fortnightly program to monitor sand dune erosion at Umina Beach has been undertaken by Gosford Council.

Following a question without notice from Cr Terri Latella at council's meeting on May 26, council agreed to put in place a regular monitoring program of the area.

Cr Latella originally requested council monitor the beach front on a weekly basis but due to constraints on staff resources, agreed to a fortnightly schedule.

"Recent climatic patterns have resulted in erosion at several beaches within the Gosford LGA, including Umina Beach," council's director of city services Mr Stephen Glen said.

"Beach erosion has also been reported at Pearl Beach, MacMasters Beach, Copacabana Beach, Terrigal Beach and Wamberal Beach.

"Council staff have committed many hours investigating and responding to these reports.

"Given the overall situation of beach erosion and the resources required to investigate each report, a weekly monitoring program at Umina Beach is considered not to be achievable within current staff resources.

"For this reason, it is proposed that a fortnightly program be initiated to monitor erosion at Umina Beach."

Mr Glen said monitoring would be undertaken at the end of Barrenjoey Rd, Umina, from June and run through until December.

"Monitoring will be undertaken through the establishment of fixed points along the foredune that can be utilised as reference points to measure changes to the position of the foredune erosion zone or 'drop-off point'," Mr Glen said.

"These fixed points will also allow for the establishment of photographic monitoring points that will enable visual comparisons of any changes to the position of the erosion zone to be made over the monitoring period.

"These monitoring techniques will only give an approximation in quantifying changes to the foredune at Umina Beach.

"Measurements of a more accurate nature would require a formal land survey."

According to Mr Glen, upon completion of the six-month monitoring period a report will be brought to council on dune stability at Umina Beach.

Council agenda COR.85, 28 Jul 2009