Shoalhaven Dune Care 2024

Shoalhaven City Council (Council) has recently completed extensive coastal dune regeneration works supported by the NSW Government’s Coast and Estuaries Grant Program at Mollymook and Narrawallee Beaches.

Works were undertaken via a yearlong contracted engagement and involved management of coastal dune systems and foreshore areas at Mollymook and Narrawallee via weed control, revegetation, beach access track renewal, and associated monitoring and maintenance. The project was delivered to support long term biodiversity and foreshore resilience outcomes across areas exposed to coastal hazards. Significant positive impacts on environmental resilience, coastal protection, and associated environmental and amenity preservation has been realised because of this project.

Delivery of this project represented the highest standard of planning and delivery of coastal dune management in highly valued and utilised public coastal areas, and has provided a great outcome for the local environment and communities.

Since successful completion of works at Mollymook and Narrawallee beaches over the 12 months prior to October 2024, Council has now commenced dune care programs at some of Councils other managed coastal foreshore areas. These programs are being undertaking under a new grant supported project from the NSW Government’s Coast and Estuaries Grant Program that will span over a three-year time frame toward mid to late 2027.

The purpose of the dune care program now commenced is to both enhance the dune systems resilience to coastal hazards, and to improve local biodiversity by promoting endemic dune vegetation. The targeted localities represent some of the most popular areas within the Local Government area, where due to proximity to dense urban and social setting are also subject to significant exposure to human and environmental impacts. Target sites include areas of Council managed foreshore reserves at the following regions and beaches:

• Northern Region - Shoalhaven Heads, Culburra, Warrain, and Currarong Beaches.
• Jervis Bay Region - Collingwood, Huskisson, Hyams, Callala Bay, Callala Beach and Nelsons Beaches.
• Sussex/Conjola Region – This area encompasses Council managed beaches between Sussex inlet (North Cudmirrah Beach) to Conjola beach in the south.
• Ulladulla Region - Council managed beaches between Narrawallee in the north and Tabourie in the south.
• Southern Region - Council managed beaches within Bawley Point / Kioloa area.

Works to be complete involve pedestrian beach access management and dune regeneration involving environmental weed management and revegetation. The project will be delivered by Councils Coastal Management Unit through the engagement of specialist contracted services in close collaboration with grant partners from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

The project aligns with the actions of management determined under Councils now gazetted Coastal Management Program (CMP) for the Open Coast and Jervis Bay. The project hence aligns significantly with the objectives of Council, the NSW Government and agency stakeholders in accordance with applicable legislation, and community stakeholder values and interest.