The primary goal of this project was to add bulk to the existing dunes to protect the dunes and nearby houses from erosion and inundation arising from extreme storm events. Modelling was done which showed that to protect the dunes and houses the dune needed to consistently be 3m high and 25m wide (from dune front to house boundaries). An intensive beach habitat assessment on macroinvertebrate life in the dune sands was undertaken which found that the macroinvertebrate diversity was critically important to the local ecosystem. Taking this into account, the works involved "filling in" low points and widening areas that are less than 25m wide. The area and shoreline movement is being monitored using high resolution aerial mapping. Since the project was completed, there have been mild to medium intensity storm events which the replenished dune system has successfully resisted. Moving forward, the council, as part of the development of the draft Roches Beach Hazard Adaptation Pathway Strategy, is looking at dune protection options such as pumping sand from nearshore (5-10m depth) for a more sustainable source. However, this will require a significantly larger volume of sand as the sediment is finer than beach sand. As part of the new Clarence Coastal Policy, council is also planning on moving toward future adaptation options (including sand nourishments) using a beneficiary-pays principle.

Beach renourishment

Method: Scraped

Sand source: Same sediment compartment

Sand volume (m2): 12,000

Sand placement: Dune area

Frequency of renourishment: Once

Date of first renourishment: 2012

Date of last renourishment: 2012

Dune replanting or construction

Method: Rehabilitation, Revegetation

Rehabilitation - method: Restrict pedestrian access, New access points, Educational signage

Revegetation - species: Endemic species

Constructed dune width (m): 25m

Constructed dune height (m): 4m