Importance of dune vegetation

The Ettalong Beach Reserve Plan of Management (EBRPOM), the Ettalong Beach Dune Management Plan (EBDMP) and Patterson and Britton's 2000 Report all confirm the importance of dune vegetation in slowing erosion and preventing wind-blown sand.

The EBRPOM states (p24): "In 1983, dune stabilisation work was undertaken involving reshaping of the dunes, re-vegetation and fencing.

"These works have helped to protect the foreshore and The Esplanade from erosion".

The 1998 Patterson and Britton Report notes (p11): "It is important to maintain vegetation on the dune in the future to stabilise the sand to act as an erosion buffer for the road (The Esplanade) and minimise maintenance costs".

The EBDMP states (p8): "Vegetation is one of the best means of slowing the effects of erosion and the movement of wind-blown sand".

No confusion - dune vegetation will slow erosion.

Secondly, I agree sand movements in Brisbane Water are very important.

Patterson and Britton noted in 2000 that "without a comprehensive sediment transport study of Brisbane Water entrance, it is not possible to determine definitively the long-term trend for behaviour of Ettalong Beach".

Fortunately, we will have that information with the soon to be completed Brisbane Waters Estuary Study.

It should provide a clearer understanding of sand movements in Brisbane Water.

Also the sand replenishment studies for Ettalong Beach (understood to have been requested by the Department of Lands) will provide additional essential information.

All interested parties will agree that access to such up-to-date scientific and cost input will ensure better decision making in respect to both foreshore plans.

Thirdly, better information on the cost of long-term erosion mitigation measures for Lance Webb Reserve and Ferry Park are needed.

Erosion in Ferry Park resulting from the high winds and seas on September 6 and 7 and erosion behind the new sandstone wall on Lance Webb Reserve at its eastern end show how important it is to deal now with this matter.

The Town Beach-Ettalong Dune area is sandwiched between these two sectors.

With limited funding available, we need to determine priorities - erosion containment measures should be a priority.

Finally, the EBDMP consultants were initially briefed by commercial interests and not Council.

Correspondence received from Council confirms the brief for consultants Andrews Neil to prepare concept plans for Town Beach was through a third party and Council could not provide a copy of that brief.

Council also confirmed the consultants were paid not directly from Council funds but from Ettalong CBD Upgrade funds.

Compromise solutions for this area are possible involving up-to-date independent advice from foreshore experts.

The current EBDMP will make the dune area unsustainable: it should be rejected.

Michael Gillian Ettalong Beach