In the days leading up to Christmas 2023, a number of sand traps were erected on the newly scraped section of the lower part of the beach, just above high tide. This can be attributed to the efforts of both DuneCare volunteers and Clarence Valley Council. The effect of some very windy days at Wooli has now seen the start of the build up of sand around the sand traps. The heavy rainfall over New Year has brought about the re-emergence of some already established ground covers with green leaves poking their heads up in various places along the top edge of the scraping. It is now time to give the regeneration programme a helping hand by joining the DuneCare effort and volunteering to install more sand traps and plant out the exposed face of the sand scraping. While it may look like a secondary dune, it not that yet. It will take time & effort to stabilise the migration of sand by installing sand traps and planting out. Read more about how you can assist at DuneCare Newsletter. No matter how much time you are able to contribute, become a DuneCare member to volunteer.
I was at Wooli from early Dec 23 to early Jan 24 & saw the new sand traps go in. Just a couple of observations of their performance in catching sand. The shade cloth traps are “working” especially after the bottom edges were re-buried to stop wind whistling underneath (when this happens the wind scours a hole under the material). The Hessian sand traps though are of too fine a weave of material, so they were not really working. The sand traps work by allowing the wind through the mesh & slow the wind in the process, causing the wind to drop the sand it is carrying. A more open weave of Hessian would probably work.
Cheers Daryl Harper
Thankyou for your email Daryl. This has been observed by many of us over the January period including Sharon Nelson, DuneCare Coordinator.
The background here is that the hessian traps have been installed by council as a trial, rather than plastic shade cloth, due to environmental concerns regarding material choice. The rest of the sand traps, some to the south of Firth Lane to the water tower, and then others to the north extending to the beach access at 128 Main Street, were installed by a willing band of DuneCare volunteers. It’s been a good comparison to see how they perform. DuneCare trialled a more open weave hessian some years ago and while they performed in a similar way as the plastic product, they deteriorated so quickly they were not effective in the longer term. Sharon will liaise with Uriah Makings, Council’s Senior Coast & Estuary Officer to provide feedback. If you would like to contact Sharon for follow up information she can be contacted at sharon.dayhew@gmail.com. You may be interested in becoming a DuneCare member and then receive the newsletters which help keep the community up to date with DuneCare activities.
Regards
Marg Ward