Unit 7.8 Stuart's Point Questions

 Name and locate the coastal dune management area discussed in this unit.

1

 The area is Stuart's Point Sand Drift area

3. Without this management of the sand dunes,  the coastal environment could be severly affected and also the fishing and tourism industry could be put in serious jepoardy by the loss of the dune barrier. 3. the local community is needed to help stabilise the sand dune system along worth other councils and organisations in the surrounding area. in doing this the local community would help the fishing and tourism industries in the area.

4.The dunes play an extremely important part in the coastal environment and also financially.The sand dune area at Stuarts point is important because it ensures that the fishing and tourism industries aren't affected and it also ensures that the sea doesn't breach the wall in severe storms like it has done a few times in the past, resulting in the destruction of property and other vegetation.


5. The primary species of vegetation on the beachfront consists of grasses and creepers. the secondary species includes shrubs and short lived trees, highly adapted prolific re-seeders and fast growing plants. the tertiary species at the back of the beachfront includes long lived trees.


6.having vegetation in amongst a sand dune traps the sand so it doesn't blow away. if there is a strong wind and there is no vegetation on the beachfront all the vegetation will be blown away. however, if there is a lot of vegetation in the beachfront the shrubs, plants, etc. all trap the sand which stabilises it and the entire dune doesn't blow away
7. cattle grazing had a dramatic effect on the dune system as it destroyed all the vegetation. this in tum allowed the wind to blow away the sand and heavy storms to overpower the wall of sand.
8. Cattle grazing would have primarily destroyed all living vegetation in the sand dune. this would have allowed things like erosion to happen as the sand is now able to be lifted and blown away. as the sand wall now becomes increasingly fragile the heavy seas also slam against the wall of sand.


9. The groups involved in the rehabilitation program included the Department of Lands, the Department of Public Works, The Macleay Shire Council, and the Soil Conservation Service of New South Wales
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10.the first stage involved using a tractor to form a small foredune approximately 1.8 metres high (see 7.36). On top of this a dune-forming fence was constructed to help trap the wind-blown sand and establish the foredune. This dune was essential to protect the hind dunes and allow vegetation to grow. The foredune was then stabilised with coastal spinifex and marram grass. The next stage involved planting trees along the riverbank to stabilise the western margin of the area. After this was completed it was a matter of planting native seedlings in the area between the foredune and the river bank. Initially, fast-growing secondary species like coastal wattle and Casuarina equisetifolia were planted. Once they were established, coastal tertiary species like banksia, melaleuca and leptospermum were planted


12. refraction
13. a) Sand movement within the dunes is now negligible. A large foredune 3–4 metres high is present and covered with vegetation. This acts to protect the hind dune vegetation from salt-laden winds and erosion from waves. The hind dunes still run east–west as no mechanical work was conducted to repair the wind damage on the hind dunes when the area was revegetated. A coastal dune ecosystem has been re-established on the dunes.

b) ) the protection of the macleay river system is successful in some ways and not in others. the problem of silting and an unstable sand dune have been conquered but the revegetation project has now introduced a noxious weed known as biteau bush which runs the entire length of the foredune.


c) many groups in the local community have benefited from the revegetation project undertaken at Stuart's point. the community itself is now able to lead their usual lifestyles without worrying about the fishing and tourism industries as much as before. also the knowledge that this management strategy works is beneficial for every group that took a part in the revegetation project. this management strategy is now being used across New South Wales for the benefit of the environment and the surrounding ecosystem.


14.