7.8 Dune Revegetation at Stuarts Points

1. Name and Locate the coastal dune management area discussed in this unit.
Stuarts Point is a small coastal village located on the mid-north coast of NSW. The dune area is 5 kilometres long with its width varying from between 200 to 400 metres.


2. Using the material in the unit, construct a timeline that highlights the changes in the Stuarts Point sand dune ecosystem.
1893: Castle grazing destroys fragile vegetation
1893: Ocean breaches sand dune on 3 occasions
1965 (May) : Planting advice given to progress association
1965 (August) : Cattle grazing destroys vegetation again
1970: Stabilisation of sand dune through revegetation
1972: Controlling access to the dunes was implemented

3. Describe the role of the local community in managing the sand dune area.
Local community is putting their hand in together to complete the goal of re-establish the sand dunes. Local people volunteering to plant and taking care of revegetation.

4.Why is the sand dune are important to the people of Stuarts Point
Because it provides an important sand dune barrier that separates the beach from the Macleay River.

5.Using 7.35 describe the natural vegetation succession on sand dunes
The natural coastal dune vegetation succession consists of primary, secondary and tertiary species of plants, each adapted to the environmental conditions unique to coastal dunes

6. Explain why vegetation is so important in stabilising sand dunes.
Vegetation is so important in stabilising sand dunes because the plant roots dig into the sand and actually fixes the sand. It allows the sand to be locked in place by the plants and will not blow away.

7. What impact did cattle grazing have on the sand dune area?
They ate the vegetation so the dunes started to wear away

8. Describe the changes to the sand dune area that would have occurred after cattle grazing,. Identify the geographical processes that would have been altered as a result of the removal of vegetation from the dunes.
After the cattle grazing most of the dune would be bare sand, the geographical process altered would be the plants protecting the dunes from being blown away.

9. Identify the groups involved int he rehabilitation program
The Department of Lands, the Department of Public Works, the Macleay Shire Council, and the Soil conservation Service of New South Wales

10. Outline the stages involved in the management program undertaken to re-establish the coastal vegetation.
The first stage involved using a tractor to form a small foredune approximately 1.8 metres high. On top of this a dune-forming fence was constructed to help trap the wind-blown sand and establish the foredune. This dune was essential to protect the hind dunes and allow vegetation to grow. The foredune was then stabilised with coastal spinfex and marram grass. The next stage involved planting trees along the riverbank to stabilise the western margin of the area. After this was completed it was a matter of planting native seedings in the area between the foredune and the river bank. Initially, fast growing secondary species like coastal wattle and Casuarina equisetifolia were planted. Once they were established, coastal tertiary species like banksia, melaleuca and leptospermum were planted.


12. Use maps to explain the geographical process that would have caused the river mouth to silt up.
The Longshore Drift

13. Evaluate the success of the revegetation program in the following areas:
a) Stabilising the sand dunes.
Sand movement within the dunes is now negligible. A large foredune 3-4 metres high is present and covered with vegetation. This acts to protect the hind dune vegetation from salt-laden winds and erosion from waves. The hind dunes still run east-west as no mechanical work was conducted to repair the wind damage on the hind dunes when the area was revegetated. A coastal dune ecosystem has been reestablished on the dunes.


b) Protecting the Macleay River ecosystem.
The Macleay river ecosystem is now protected as a result of this


c) Benefiting groups from the local community.
The community fishing and tourism industry of the area has been restored to its full strength.

14.
Firstly, vegetation on sand dunes protects the dune from being blown away by winds. The vegetation succession that protects the dunes starts with the bare beach, then grasses and creepers on the incipient dune, then shrubs and short-lived trees on the fore dune and finally long-lived trees on the hind dune. Longshore drift as well as strong winds and heavy rain can cause a sand dune to move inland. Close off the dunes and re-plant vegetation and only re-open dunes once vegetation has grown back.