Work to improve access to the beach at Hungry Head is about to start thanks to a grant of $48,769 from the state government matched by Bellinger Heads State Park Trust.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The work scheduled for December 14-18 will address Hungry Head beach erosion and problems relating to the entrance location for Dalhousie Creek.
Related: Keeping watch at Hungry Head
In February 2019 council adopted the Dalhousie Creek Entrance Management Strategy, which recommended that the following set of actions be implemented as phase 1:
- Maintaining a low point (or 'dry notch') along the preferred creek alignment to act as a 'spillway' during high creek water levels. It is intended to provide a preferential creek opening location should natural breakout occur.
- Beach scraping from the inter-tidal area and from the 'dry notch' (up to four times a year).
- Beach nourishment and dune building in three main areas, using sand from the above actions: 1. The 4WD entrance to beach to ensure ongoing access for emergency and SLSC vehicles; 2. Area immediately in front of the SLSC watch tower allowing pedestrian access to beach; and 3. Area north of the SLSC lookout to rebuild the eroded dune area.
- Planting and weed control to allow the dunes to establish and revegetate.
- Artificial opening of Dalhousie Creek only if required to meet stakeholder objectives (if not met by above) and not more than once per year.
Work to start on Monday will include sand scraping, entrance relocation and establishment of a 'dry notch' to re-establish the intermediate dune. This will help protect important infrastructure and emergency access.
Further work will also include re-establishment of a board and chain access point from the surf club.
This is phase 1 of the project and it is hoped that the dune will continue to re-establish beyond this work, particularly with the application of jute mesh and wind fences to help retain the sand.
Phase 2 will involve further surveying and assessment of the dune and beach quality as to the effectiveness of the work and appropriateness and need for future sand scrape work.
Council thanks the community for their patience during this work which is anticipated to be completed in time for the summer holidays.
For further information on the Dalhousie Creek Entrance Management Strategy please visit council's website https://www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au/
.
