Recent foreshore erosion at Norfolk Beach

Following concerns raised by some Coochie residents regarding the foreshore erosion resulting from wind/tide conditions on 28 November 2018, technical specialists and arborists inspected the site. The arborist’s advice was that while two trees (at Norfolk Beach) and one tree (at Morwong Beach) are at some risk of long term failure, at the time of inspection they displayed typical health, appeared structurally sound and adapted to their immediate environmental conditions. On this basis, officers agreed no stabilisation beach nourishment was required at present. However, Council will continue to monitor the extent of the hazard impact on both trees especially following the king tides in the near future. BMT, the coastal experts commissioned to complete the Coochie SEMP, also advised they did not support limited beach nourishment as a method to support vulnerable trees.

In the long term, the SEMP management options will address environmental, social, cultural and economic values of the foreshore at Norfolk Beach.

In addition, I will discuss potential indigenous cultural heritage values associated with the vulnerable trees with QYAC.