UPDATE: Surfside is taking immediate action against coastal erosion with an emergency dune restoration project announced today. Under the Eurobodalla Open Coast Management Plan, the council will begin scraping sand from the intertidal zone to replenish the dunes, safeguarding homes from flooding.
Work is set to commence on Monday, September 22, 2023, as the council responds to urgent community requests for protection against rising sea levels. Mayor Mathew Hatcher emphasized the collaboration with the NSW Government in addressing these critical concerns. “We’ve heard the passionate requests for action from Surfside residents, and we’re pleased to deliver this emergency response,” he stated.
The restoration effort will see 5,000 foreshore-compatible plants planted by Landcare volunteers to stabilize the dune after the sand is in place. This initiative follows the alarming experiences of local residents, including Craig Lyttle, whose home was nearly inundated during the last East Coast Low. “We’re all very pleased that we’ve got some movement on this and it’ll probably help to protect the houses along the foreshore here for at least the next couple of years,” Lyttle told the Bay Post.
This project is characterized as a short-term solution while the council develops long-term strategies to combat ongoing erosion. One such plan involves dredging up to 30,000 cubic meters of sand from the Clyde River, creating a channel 40 meters wide to help replenish the beach. The sand will then be deposited offshore, utilizing natural waves and currents to drive it toward the shoreline.
Lyttle remains optimistic about the combined strategy, stating that the dredged sand, if it migrates toward the beach, will contribute to rebuilding efforts. “That can only help to rebuild,” he remarked. However, he expressed a desire for more permanent solutions, similar to protective measures at Long Beach and McLeod’s Beach.
Lyttle credited Bega MP Dr. Michael Holland for his advocacy and support in mobilizing the emergency response. “Dr. Holland has been doing some wonderful work with the community here, and he’s a huge advocate for us,” he said, highlighting the importance of community involvement.
As preparations for the dune restoration get underway, residents are feeling a sense of relief. “It just gives you a bit of comfort for at least the short term to say that we can go away or go overseas and not think that your house is going to be taken by the sea,” Lyttle added.
As the situation develops, residents and officials alike are watching closely for further updates on long-term strategies to ensure the safety and stability of Surfside’s coastline.
