ANYONE fortunate enough to live on the edge – the coastal edge of Australia – appreciates a view of the ocean.
Increasingly though people are realising their uninterrupted views - a result of the old chop-it-all-down-so-we-can-see-th e-sea philosophy – come at a price.
Councils all around the country are having to bear the cost of coastal stabilisation works in order to save valuable coastal frontage that includes parks, boardwalks, homes and businesses.
And that cost, to rectify and restabilise, more often than not proves to be substantial.
Shoalhaven City Council, for instance, has already spent in excess of $20,000 at Rennies Beach, where there is the need for an on-going maintenance program due to vandalism of coastal vegetation – all at a cost to ratepayers.
Our coastal strips are by and large very fragile, unstable areas and nature is the ultimate expert when it comes to maintaining these - protecting them from wind and tidal erosion from the sea, water erosion from the land.
“Vegetation plays an integral role in the stabilisation of coastal foreshore environments, dunes, hind dunes, headlands and all other areas where the ocean and land interact,” explained experienced coastal vegetation regenerator, Shane Pyemont.
He said the different species of flora found in these environments struggle to adapt and require significantly longer periods of time to establish communities due to the various dynamics at play in the harsh, salt laden zones.
“We must value these areas of importance and acknowledge the role they play in helping to prevent the ocean from undermining these already fragile and sensitive zones.
“At risk is lack of diversity and loss of infrastructure - public and private.”
He said evidence that sea levels are rising due to climate change places even more importance on working to maintain healthy coastal vegetation communities for the future.
Council’s Bush Care coordinator, Alasdair Stratton, agrees.
“It’s becoming more and more important that we have a good healthy buffer zone of coastal vegetation.
“A good, diverse vegetation cover is the best way to capture and store sand – critical to protecting our beaches and dunes from coastal erosion.”
Trees cut down and poisoned
BAWLEY Point locals are outraged over the illegal destruction of coastal trees.
The latest incident occurred over the Christmas holiday period.
Two coastal banksias were cut down and more than 10 – some “of considerable age” – were poisoned.
“To us laymen this damage appears to be part of an on-going campaign over a number of years to improve view lines in the area,” Bawley resident, Don Davidson told the Times.
“The problem of vegetation damage is widespread, pernicious and ongoing, particularly in scenic coastal areas.”
While this latest incident has been reported to Shoalhaven City Council environmental officers for investigation Mr Davidson said the real solution to the continuing destruction of valuable coastal vegetation lies in public education.
“Rangers cannot be everywhere all of the time and surveillance systems are expensive.
“In the end, like smoking in the workplace or drink driving, it has to be tackled by education to make the practice unacceptable in the public mind - condemned as a form of theft from the public rather than condoned as a property value improver for comparatively well-off individuals.”
While opting not to comment on any current investigation, manager of council’s ranger services department, Dave Martin, said illegal clearing of vegetation was a serious matter and carried heavy penalties.
People with information regarding illegal destruction of vegetation are asked to contact council rangers on 4429 3576.
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