Collingwood Beach Dune Vegetation Management

Between March 2022 and January 2024 Council delivered over $115,000 (excl. GST) of contracted dune management activities at Collingwood beach through 1:1 grant funding contribution from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW, formerly Department of Planning and Environment (DPE)). The following outcomes were achieved as a result of these projects:

• Installation and renewal of post and wire fencing at 11 Council managed Beach access tracks between Illfracombe Avenue and Susan Street.
• Installation and renewal of approximately 1.5 km of post and wire fencing along the shoreward side of the Shared User Path between Illfracombe Avenue and Susan Street.
• Vegetation pruning to achieve pedestrian clearance standards along all access fencing and Share User Pathway.
• Weed control works along the extent of Collingwood beach targeting Mother of Millions (Bryophyllum sp.), Sea Spurge (Euphorbia paralias), Fleabane (Conyza sp.) and other broad leaf annuals.
• Sand nourishment along all managed Beach access tracks via mechanical movement of local beach sand / undertaking of Nature Assisted Beach Enhancement (Beach scraping/NABE).
• Revegetation for the purposes of dune stabilisation and biodiversity improvement with shrub, ground cover and vine species (2,900 Native tube stock). Dune restoration works were targeted to where ongoing vegetation vandalism had occurred and included planting of sections requiring diverse species with variable growth habit and root systems to help stabilise the dunes and provided outcomes for biodiversity improvement.
• Development and installation of two (2) educational signs, and installation of seating.

The management of Collingwood Beach is now aligned with Council's Coastal Management Program (CMP) for the Open Coast and Jervis Bay, which was adopted by Council and certified and gazetted by the NSW State Government in late 2024.

Details of the CMP can be found via https://getinvolved.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/open-coast-and-jervis-bay-cmp.

Foreshore management works in line with the CMP which is underway currently including dune management works which commenced in July 2024 and will continue through the next 3-years.

Further updates on Councils foreshore management projects including the management of Collingwood Beach under the now applicable CMP, can be found at https://getinvolved.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/foreshore-protection-management. For further information and updates please subscribe to the Foreshore Protection Management page by clicking the Stay Informed box in the upper right-hand corner of the page. No further updates will be posted to https://getinvolved.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/collingwood-beach

In June 2024 Council formally finalised the grant project with NSW Department of Climate Change Energy the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) that enabled staged dune regeneration and beach access management works to be delivered since mid-2022.

The works completed under this project achieved significant positive outcomes for natural area preservation, protection and enhancement, through managed investment in the environmental protection and resilience of Collingwood Beach dune area.

Collingwood Beach Revegetation Project - Stage 2

Council has completed Stage 1 of the Collingwood Beach Revegetation Project. Stage 2 of the project has now commenced which includes continuing beach access fencing and further revegetation works.

This stage of works will aim to further:

• Reduce impacts on biodiversity from land misuse and feral plant and animal species.
• Improve protection of natural areas through reducing informal access to limit disturbance on vegetation.
• Improve public amenity and public safety through greater beach access delineation.

This ongoing management of the natural dune area at Collingwood Beach will continue to increase the resilience of the beach to coastal erosion, provide enhancement to local biodiversity and improve public amenity.

Shoalhaven City Council has received a Coastal and Estuary Grant to undertake dune restoration works at Collingwood Beach. Collingwood Beach is identified as one of 10 beaches at greatest risk of coastal erosion. The revegetation project aims to increase dune resilience by enhancing vegetation diversity.

This project follows on from a two-year trial at Collingwood Beach that confirmed the importance of vegetation species diversity to maintain dune resilience.

View the PowerPoint Presentation to find out more.

Shoalhaven City Council has become aware of ongoing tree and vegetation vandalism at Collingwood Beach. Council treats tree and vegetation vandalism seriously and is currently investigating this issue. Any assistance from members of the public would be greatly appreciated and rewards are on offer where the information provided may lead to identification of the individuals responsible.

Vegetation growing on dune systems protects nearby infrastructure from erosion and provides crucial habitat for many endemic animal species. Coastal dunes provide very important protection against coastal hazards such as wind erosion, excessive wave action and tidal overruns during storm events.

Council hopes that residents will take an active approach in understanding the need for coastal areas to remain in a natural vegetated condition and assist Council to protect not only the natural environment, but in the longer-term, people’s homes and properties.

The community are reminded to report tree and vegetation vandalism to Council in accordance with the Shoalhaven Tree and Vegetation Vandalism Prevention Policy.

Reports of vandalism can be made online, by phone or in person.

Open article in full to see all images.

On 18 August 2020 Shoalhaven City Council completed additional pruning at Trial Site 2 to further increase the size of selected view windows. Selective pruning was undertaken and included height reduction and side pruning from 35 percent to a maximum of 50 percent of any single shrub. Additional works included the removal of all Banksia seedlings/suckers from Trial site 2 and 60 percent removal from Trial Site 1. These works were carried out in accordance with Council’s Second Addendum Review of Environmental Factors. An independent Arborist supervised the works and submitted an Arboricultural Report which is included in the Document Library on this page.

At Shoalhaven City Council's 8 September Strategy & Assets Committee meeting, it was agreed to allocate funds to complete the remaining actions in the Collingwood Beach Dune Vegetation Action Plan. The two-year trial period is due to be completed in December 2020.

As part of the Collingwood Beach Dune Vegetation Two-Year Trial Action Plan, Banksia species were initially trimmed in September 2018 to provide filtered views of the Bay in an attempt to deter vandalism.

Additional Trimming occurred on 12 December 2019 which consisted of selective height reduction and pruning of sides that impede the view windows. Pruning of shrubs did not exceed 25 per cent of the crown mass. To view all of the pruning images visit the Before and After Pruning Photos Library on this web page.

Pruning also occurred on 18 August 2020. Photos will be published soon.

31 July 2019

Shoalhaven City Council has developed a Draft Shoalhaven Tree and Vegetation Vandalism Prevention Policy which aims to reduce and prevent the incidence of continued vandalism to trees and vegetation throughout the Shoalhaven.

The draft Policy has been developed in light of persistent tree and vegetation vandalism on Council owned or managed public reserves throughout the Local Government Area.

Council invites members of the community to view the draft Policy online and provide feedback by 28 August 2019. Alternatively, copies of the draft Policy are available for viewing at Council’s Nowra or Ulladulla Administration Buildings.

Submissions can be made by:

• Completing the online feedback form
• Email to council@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au quoting reference number 61751E
• Mail to PO Box 42 NOWRA NSW 2541 quoting reference number 61751E

All submissions must be received by 5.00pm Wednesday 28 August 2019.

Find out more and provide feedback at www.getinvolved.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/tree-and-vegetation-vandalism-prevention

March 2019

A viewing platform was installed at the Berry Street beach access in accordance with the Collingwood Beach Dune Vegetation Two-Year Trial Action Plan.

View images of the platform...