There is a valuable untapped resource, that can really improve our understanding of the processes that shape Wooli beach.
That is the collective knowledge, records and observations of the community. As evidenced in November 2010 community meeting, there are many photographic records and hypotheses about:
- What happens on the beach
- Why it happens
- What evidence supports (2)
- How we might use these ideas to improve outcomes.
The Wooli community is engaged in a learning journey. It is important that we collate this missing link data because it represents a great wealth of time based data, that we simply cant get from other sources and it will provide clues to look for in future data gathering.
Bob Stack is our initial contributor of anecdotal observations and ideas ( plus photos including the one above). In a submission to Council’s on the draft Emergency Action Subplan a key observation Bob noted was that if we could prevent the North/South flow along the base of the dune it would greatly reduce erosion of the dune. Read his complete submission.
Brian Saye, our resident surveyor has been busy over the 2011/12 holiday period capturing the impacts of high tides and large swells on Wooli beach. You can see from his photos taken over several days that the beach copes well for a time then starts to erode as the high point of the beach (call the berm) is breached and water starts to race along the base of the dune to escape back to sea. Brian Saye’s report on Swell Event photos 24 to 26-12-11
Daryl Harper, Len OShea, Bruce Bird, Bob Stack and Tim Heldt have been swapping emails about the best way to trap sand to protect the base of the dunes during high tides and storm swells. Bob’s photos show the dangerous gutter that can form and accelerate dune erosion.email discussion on channel at base of the dune
peter thanks for the great work the group is doing my wifes family owns 20 main st , we have been to some meeting and I am always keeping an eye onthe progress of the dune and these last months the build up of sand by the wind breaks onte southern end can you tell me were they funded privately or from grant money unfortunately I don’t keep up with all the news letters emailed to me ,and why aren’t they along the rest of the beach ??
regards michael borton
Thanks for the comment michael. The wind breaks have been funded by grants from the council so far and DuneCare has enough in balance to build these sand catchers along the rest of the beach in front of the village. The reasons why this hasnt happened yet are (1) DuneCare is experimenting to see what designs of sand-catcher and what materials work best (2) holiday visitors have damaged several so Dunecare is waiting til Feb to resume and (3) Dunecare has relatively few active members to do the physical work. If you can assist please contact Len OShea (0437120387). cheers pete dunn