Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
Key
site specific
region wide
Dunes in bloom at the Flume
Degraded coastal dunes overlooking Warrnambool's most popular surfing spot have been revitalised following a community-led project to formalise beach access.
In western Victoria's largest coastal town, thousands of eager surfers used to climb the dunes from the carpark off the main beach at a place known locally as 'the Flume' to suss out the day's prospects.
The constant foot traffic led to hundreds of metres of informal tracks up and down the dunes, which provide commanding views of Lady Bay. As a result the native plants that stabilise the dune system were been slowly trampled, leaving the area vulnerable to erosion and weeds.
Recognising the problem would only worsen with the increasing popularity of surfing, members of the Warrnambool Surfriders Association joined forces with the Warrnambool Coastcare/Landcare Group to protect and improve their favourite beach spot.
Funding
With about $8,500 in funding from the Australian Government the partners constructed a 30-metre hardened pathway from the carpark to the summit of the highest nearby sand dune, as well as steps leading to a new raised viewing platform.
Activities
Project Officer Linda Said said surfers were the instigators of the project, and it was largely due to their efforts that the area was starting to regenerate.
"More and more surfers are appreciating just how important the dune vegetation is to the health of the beach, so they're using the new pathway and platform to check the swell," Linda said.
"Just putting in the formal pathway has been vital to helping the dunes recover."
In addition to regulating beach access at the Flume, the project mobilised volunteers to plant more than 24,000 local native grasses, groundcovers, shrubs and trees on National Tree Day and during seven community tree planting days.
Planting species such as Coastal Bearded Heath, Coastal Everlasting and Pigface to replace the non-indigenous Marram grass, the volunteers have steadily increased in number of the past three years, with a record 200 turning out on National Tree Day in 2006.
The project was also backed by the National Landcare Program, the Warrnambool City Council, CoastAction/Coastcare and Warrnambool Toyota.
The organisations have donated plants, valuable expertise and in-kind support such as brochures, stickers and advertising.
"We really appreciate the support of our partners and sponsors and couldn't have produced such a result without them," Linda said.
In 2005, the project took out the Community Action Award in Keep Australia Beautiful's Australian Clean Beach Challenge.
More information
- Linda Said, 'Reveg the Flume' Project Officer: (03) 5565 8977 or las71@bigpond.net.au
- Glenelg Hopkins CMA
See also
Key
Links to another web site
Opens a pop-up window