Meeting papers

Healthy dune systems absorb wave and wind energy and can reduce flooding, wind, and storm
surge impacts. Dune vegetation helps hold dunes and foreshores together, making them more
resilient to wind and wave erosion4. Dune vegetation slows the wind near the surface of the dune
and allows sand to drop out of the air. This reduces wind impacts on the dunes and nearby
settlements and recreational areas.

Healthy dune systems are self-regenerating and can rebuild more easily after severe weather
events, given enough time between storms and availability of suitable material for rebuilding.
Dunes in good condition means that there are sources of seeds and runners nearby to recolonise
disturbed areas after storm events. Vegetation and natural debris act as an entrapment point,
allowing the lodgment of sand and seeds that contribute to the rebuilding and revegetation of
frontal dunes after disturbance.5

Biodiverse, healthy vegetation on dunes means that the native vegetation remains more adaptable
and resilient to any changes. We don’t yet know which species are likely to be more adaptable to
changed climatic conditions, or more resistant to disease or new predators facilitated by climate
change. Having a wide range of native species mixed in with each other means that change
resilient species are more likely to be in place, and that the loss of some species is less likely to
significantly reduce vegetation cover and be more easily recovered by remaining species.

Sloping, healthy dunes help keep sand on our beaches. Waves run out on the natural slope,
reducing the amount of energy available to lift and carry sand away. Steep dune faces left after
storms soon slump, quickly returning the back of the beach to a more natural slope. Dunes are a
source of sediment for offshore bars that develop after storms that then act as a local source of
sediment to rebuild beaches and frontal dunes.6


Coastal hazards monitoringCoastal Monitoring Plan
This data will inform future climate change mitigation actions and provide feedback on the
outcomes of current and future management.

Noosa Council has developed an integrated Coastal Monitoring Plan to map and monitor changes
in Noosa’s coastline and dunes. Data from this monitoring will inform further coastal hazard
monitoring and mapping and on-ground management decisions.
EBFMPEBFRMP Management actions
The following actions are identified for implementation:
Prioritisation:
• Immediate: < 1 year
• Medium:1 year – 3 years
• Long: 3 years – 5 years
• Continuing: Commenced and ongoing.



4 Clark GF, Fischer M, Hunter C (2021). Coasts: Coastal ecosystems and habitats. In: Australia State of the

environment 2021, Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment,
Canberra, https://soe.dcceew.gov.au/coasts/environment/coastal-ecosystems-and-habitats, DOI:
10.26194/AANZ-RF46
5 De Battisti, D. (2021). The resilience of coastal ecosystems: A functional trait-based perspective. Journal of

Ecology. 109

6 Lawlor, P., Jackson, D.W.T. (2022). A Nature-Based Solution for Coastal Foredune Restoration: The Case

Study of Maghery, County Donegal, Ireland. In: Misiune, I., Depellegrin, D., Egarter Vigl, L. (eds) Human-
Nature Interactions. Springer, Cham.
Eastern Beaches Foreshore Reserves Management Plan 2023                                               Page 29


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