Main and Clarkes Beach Dune Recovery Project

Sand dunes are important as a buffer for waves during storms and important habitat for plants and animals.

The newly formed dunes were planted with appropriate native species and fences were put up.

New beach access paths and signage were also installed.

The purpose of this is to keep beachgoers off the dunes to allow for the long-term stabilisation of the dunes and to protect plants and animals.

A Vegetation Management Plan(PDF, 11MB) has been developed which includes follow up maintenance for 12 months. Soon after the beach scaping there were signs of new plant growth.

The scraping work has recreated the natural dune shape, improving the front face of the foredune, and creating a new 'incipient' dune.

The dip in sand between the incipient dune and the foredune is called the ‘swale’. This more natural dune formation creates a wind trap for sand to fall into during northerly winds. It also creates an environment to encourage plants to grow. 

This diagram illustrates the dune structure(PDF, 251KB) and the image below shows the swale at Main Beach Byron Bay, during the beach scaping works.

• only small sand volumes were moved,
• significant amounts of sand have returned to the embayment, and
• the beaches are naturally rebuilding.

Council has also started preparing long-term strategies to guide us and other stakeholders in the management of the coast, such as:

• Coastal Management Programs (CMPs). Specific to Main and Clarkes beaches is the Coastal Management Program for the Open Coast that focuses on coastal hazards and threats to the entire Shire coastline.
• Coastal Hazard Assessment Study - as part of Stage 2 of CMP preparation, this is a detailed and technical assessment of coastal hazards for the entire coastline.