Coastal management program grants 2011-12

Hungry Head headland provides a view of the NSW coastline with no built infrastructure as far as the eye can see. The project will provide access from this popular vantage point onto the beach. This will give visitors an opportunity to safely access the beach with zero environmental impact and to head north to the recently finalised Urunga boardwalk.

The Jimmy's Beach Sand Renourishment Review will analyse erosion controls (i.e. sand deposition) undertaken over the last four years to ascertain if current processes are a viable option for foreshore management. The recommendations of the Review will present Council and the Community with a strategy for the future protection of this part of the coastline.

Smiths Lake (ICOLL) has a high level of exposure to ocean conditions and resultant coastal processes across the interface of Sandbar beach. Consequently, the berm and lower estuary is likely to exhibit early and dramatic reaction to projected climate change effects including storm intensity, swell direction and sea level rise (SLR). The study will provide good understanding, informing the management requirements of other ICOLLS with various degrees of exposure.

The site represents an important confluence of management interests relating to floodplain, coastal and estuarine processes and hazards and consequently will guide practice in this area into the future.

The coastal dune is actively eroding south of the Lake Cathie entrance. In November 2009, Council completed preparation of Stage 1 of the Coastline Management Plan (CMP) to consider an ultimate solution to the erosion problem. Stage 2 of the CMP is underway, which will further investigate the preferred options for coastal management. Repair of the stormwater outlets along with restoration of the dune was identified in the CMP as a high priority short term coastal management option. Recent monitoring of the area along with consultation through the Lake Cathie CMP has identified existing stormwater outlets are causing extensive localised dune erosion. This erosion continues to threaten remaining stormwater, power, water and road infrastructure. Council has repaired a number of outlets in the last few years, however, now seeks to complete the remaining four outlets. The repair works will form part of recommendations in the final CMP, however, works are required promptly. The site is identified as a coastal erosion Hot Spot by the NSW government.

Lady Robinsons Beach/Cook Park has for over 50 years suffered from storms and changes in wave climate in Botany Bay that has caused severe erosion along the beach, extending into the remnant dunes. Over the past 15 years Council, in conjunction with OEH, NSW Maritime and SAC Ltd, has spent over $14 million to restore and stabilise the beach with a series of rock groynes, sand nourishment and dune restoration work. The predicted sea level rises due to climate change and other climate change vectors such as increased storm intensity and frequency will potentially exacerbate the erosion issues along Lady Robinson Beach and the Cooks and Georges River Estuaries. Additionally, the predicted sea level rise and storm surge potential will cause inundation of coastal areas. It is proposed to upgrade existing coastal management plans to incorporate the impacts of climate change specifically increased coastal erosion and inundation and develop short, medium and long term strategies to address the potential hazards.