Treat dunes with respect

by Cooloola City Farm

Rainbow Beach has been severely damaged by the recent cyclonic activity and it is quite distressing to see the frontal dunes disappear and the fore dunes badly eroded. Many of the young casuarinas  that have grown since the last severe weather event have been washed away and the older, less flexible casuarinas have fallen.

Removal of the frontal dunes causes exposure of plants in the fore dunes, that lie immediately  behind, to severe conditions they are not designed to withstand. Damage to the shrubs affects dune stability and may make the environment unsuitable for the wildlife that inhabits the area.

We cannot control the weather, but pedestrian traffic also damage dunes, so it is incumbent upon us all to treat dunes with respect, by using declared paths on and off the beach , and taking care not to damage the plants that hold the dunes together.

Healthy and stable sand dunes are vital in stopping erosion of our coastline. Whenever we go to the beach, we should tread very lightly on them.

City Farm, opposite the Community Centre, on Tin Can Bay Road, is open to the public for plant sales on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday  and Friday from 8am-3pm, 07 54862304, ccfni09@gmail.com,  www.cooloolacityfarm.org

Please note: City Farm is now  open on Thursday for a trial period. We are a cash only organisation and do not have the capability to take credit cards in payment.