The dunes at Holdfast Bay were once 10-20 m tall and extended 200-300 m landward, but were severely eroded and trapped by development by the 1980s. Rip-rap rocks were put in followed by sand drift fencing. As the sand fencing caught wind-blown sand over the years, successive iterations of fencing were put in seaward that have continued to catch sand and restore the dunes to a miniature version of their former selves. The fencing and revegetation has successfully restored the primary dune structure and swale. The dunes began to be revegetated once the first set of fencing was installed and have continued to be revegetated over decades. Introduced Marram grass was originally used to revegetate and stabilise the newly trapped sand but this has now become a significant weed. The original planting densities are unknown, however, the most recent management plan details the species and densities that are now being planted (link below). Current management focuses on further revegetation and weed control, primarily to create better habitat and restore locally native species. Currently, there are no plans to further increase coastal protection aspects, aside from the erosion control that revegetation will provide. Some extra fencing was put in place in 2019, with the same materials as before, some of which was successful.

Dune replanting or construction

Method: Revegetation, Rehabilitation, Sand fences

Rehabilitation - method: Restrict pedestrian access, Weed control

Revegetation - species: See Dune Biodiversity Action Plan (link below)

Planting density: See Dune Biodiversity Action Plan

Sand fence material: Wood posts with square metal mesh and shade cloth

Sand fence configuration: Both straight and zig zag. Perpendicular to shore and parallel to shore. Multiple 'generations' over 4 decades.

Sand fence porosity: Shadecloth

Sand fence height (m): 0.9 m

Constructed dune width (m): Maximum approx 60 m, frequently less

Constructed dune height (m): Maximum 8m (at top of primary dune)