Mass of purple flowers spread across sand bags

A really beautiful sight will greet you if you go to Ocean Beach and either look over the railing or look up from the beach to see a mass of purple flowers, carpobrutus glaucescens or Pigface.

The bright yellow stamens seem to beam at you.

This prostrate plant has successfully spread across the enormous sand bags which were put in place after the dreadful erosion caused by storms and tides in 2015.

This whole wall of sandbags is still very fragile, not to be climbed on or raced over by man or dog.

It is after all only a temporary answer to the problem.

Nobody really knows how to overcome the stress on this part of the Coast.

You will notice that the erosion is continuing either side of the wall.

This is what happens to walls; they just move the problem elsewhere.

Barrenjoey Rd directly faces the ocean and forms a wind tunnel.

It is possible that with the right weather conditions and king tides the whole bank of sandbags could be swept out to sea.

Volunteers spend a lot of time trying to strengthen the dunes, by planting natives which will survive in the hostile environment and might be able to hold the sand in place.

It is unfortunate that they have to waste time picking up rubbish thoughtlessly tossed onto the dunes by passers-by.

Remember plastic which gets to the sea, eventually is eaten by humans when we eat our fish.

Email, 13 Oct 2017

Margaret Lund, Woy Woy