New Coastcare group for Casuarina Beach
November 5, 2009
A new community-based dune care group launched today will give the residents of Casuarina Beach the opportunity to be more involved in the stewardship, care and restoration of the dunal area of Casuarina Beach.
The new group will also play an important role in education, communication and liaison between the residents, the land manager – NSW Land and Property Management Authority – and Tweed Shire Council.
Casuarina Beach Coastcare Inc president Ralph Penridge said that it was important that residents understood the ongoing status of the dune and when and why certain activities occur.
“We feel it is critical that the locals become involved now and understand the ecosystem that is being re-established there,” Mr Penridge said.
“The dune restoration process is currently being undertaken by contractors, but as in all beachfront communities, it will eventually become the responsibility of the community to maintain the dune.
“To that end we are already in the process of establishing five separate teams of volunteers to be trained fully in the skills of dune restoration.”
Council’s Director Community and Natural Resources David Oxenham said Casuarina Beach Coastcare Inc and Tweed Shire Council had jointly developed and agreed on a foreshore vegetation maintenance plan for 3.5 kilometres of Casuarina Beach dune.
“Tweed Shire Council and Casuarina Beach Coastcare Inc have also committed to a co-ordinated partnership approach to managing the coastal foreshore vegetation and dunes of Casuarina Beach – by way of a Memorandum of Understanding between the parties,” Mr Oxenham said.
Mr Penridge said that in the short term the role of Casuarina Coastcare Inc was to ensure that everyone understood the importance of the work being done and how the residents could assist in the process.
“In the longer term it will be up to us, the community, to continue the good work currently being undertaken to ensure the balance is maintained,” Mr Penridge said.
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