Platforms come, vegetation goes

Viewing platforms would be installed and dune vegetation removed under a Ettalong Beach Dune Management Plan currently being exhibited by Gosford Council.

The dune plan provides greater detail of the dune section of the Ettalong Beach Reserve Plan of Management.

The dune plan aims "to revegetate and selectively reshape the dune so that from The Esplanade, the dune falls gradually toward the water level with vegetation consisting of a lower storey (to 1.5m height) and an upper storey (>4m height) to maintain view lines".

The proposed plan covers the area from Beach St to Picnic Parade.

Works would include the construction of viewing decks at Memorial Ave and Picnic Parade and the replacement of the dune fence to create a 10 to 20 metre wide "vegetated dune corridor".

The toilet block at Picnic Parade would be removed with a new amenity building constructed near the southern part of the beach.

Vegetation seaward of the new dune fence would be removed, and vegetation on the road side of the new fence lowered and possibly replanted.

The plan would involve the selective "removal of vegetation" and "reshaping of sand dune" to provide viewing corridors.

It would involve the planting of trees, plants and selective weeding, and the selective pruning of trees to raise the lower canopy.

A foreshore nourishment plan study would also be initiated.

The plan suggested the toe of the incipient dune "could" be reshaped beyond the line of existing banksias.

The construction of a central viewing deck would be built "with funds from adjacent development".

Ongoing maintenance would include selective pruning of vegetation to "maintain water views", selective weeding, sand removal from under decks, selective removal of sand deposits to maintain "filtered water views", the replanting of dieback areas to maintain vegetation density and the possible removal of sand from the street.

Lower storey vegetation, the dune fence and timber decks would also be maintained.

The report stated that it was not advisable to change or modify the area surrounding the higher part of the dune due to existing banksias.

It also stated that the best place to reshape or lower the dune occurred between the Picnic Parade amenity block and the eastern-most beach access.

The report stated that "originally planted by Gosford Council in the mid-1980s to prevent sand continually blowing onto The Esplanade (creating both a hazard and an ongoing maintenance concern), it is the most successful example of a vegetated dune system in the Reserve".

The dune management plan's objective was to improve the recreation value of the beach and to remove exotic weed species and remove coastal wattle back to the original fence line.

It also aimed to selectively remove dead or dying shrub species and pockets of coastal tea tree and honey myrtle.

Other objectives included the planting of coastal banksia, bangalay, and tuckeroo along the highest part of the dune, the reshaping of the dune in the area bounded by the most northern beach access and the amenity building, and the construction of three timber and steel viewing platforms and a new beach protective fence.

The report stated that under the plan, the number of beach accesses would be reduced and regular maintenance of the dunes would take place.

The removal and control of weeds would be done by a qualified bush regeneration contractor.

According to the report the protective fence would be constructed after the removal of existing weeds.

The plain wire fence would be located along the seaward margin of the new dune field, well above the high water level so as to minimise the potential for damage or destruction by storm waves.

The main purpose of the fence would be to deter access as well as defining the vegetated dune area.

The construction of a low masonry wall along the landward side of the dune, in place of the existing pine log fence has also been planned.

The bagged and painted wall would define the landward edge of the vegetated dune, providing a secondary sand-capture barrier to The Esplanade.

The construction of two timber and steel viewing platforms has also been planned.

The viewing decks, providing elevated access from The Esplanade, "will provide extensive views across Brisbane Water" according to the report.

"These platforms will also provide access to the beach (ramp)."

Platforms are to be constructed in front of the Outrigger Resort and at the end of Picnic parade after the amenity building's removal.

Construction and materials would be similar to viewing platforms at Umina and Terrigal.

Additionally, low planting is to be installed around the base of each viewing platform to act as a sand-catching mechanism, reducing the need to access underneath the viewing platforms to remove sand build-up.

The Dune Management Plan is on public exhibition from August 2 to August 30 at council's administration building and libraries.

Development Application, August 3 Andrews Neil, Ettalong Beach Dune Management Plan