Restoration of Aslings Beach Dunes: an Eden community project
prepared by
Christine Tynan and Heather Meek
reviewed by
Anna Robinson
In 2001, the New South Wales Government established the “Far South Coast Living Centres, Twofold Bay and Hinterlands Strategy” project with the purpose of providing guidelines for the future sustainable development of the area.
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Chris Tynan at Eden harbour on the replica |
Aslings Beach is on the beautiful New South Wales Coast, south of Eden. Like many beaches in Australia, it has become infested with exotic weed species, changing the nature of the foreshore. In an attempt to return the beach to its original condition, two plant scientists in the area, Chris Tynan and Heather Meek, were offered the task of carrying out a survey and prepare a restoration plan for the Aslings Beach Dunes. This was an Eden Community project funded by the Australian Government Envirofund National Heritage Trust through a grant to the Eden Foreshore Committee (part of the Bega Valley Shire Council).
Christine Tynan has a BSc (major in Botany) from the University of Melbourne and is a trained teacher. She also has a Certificate in Horticulture from the CIT, Dept. of Horticulture. Heather Meek has an Associated Diploma in Applied Science (Biology/Ecology) from CCAE, now University of Canberra.
The brief for the project was essentially
to survey, identify and photograph (digital) the plants at Aslings Beach;
section the area so that it could be cared for by individuals or volunteer teams;
suggest methods for control or elimination of weeds;
investigate the practicality of a demarcation pathway to limit grass intrusion and redirect pedestrian traffic off the dunes themselves.
The project involved
an overview of the current
ecosystem;
defining a ‘weed’;
guidelines for weed removal (some actions can worsen the situation by inadvertent spread, improving germination conditions by bringing weed seed into the light or scratching its surface allowing readier moisture absorption);
guidelines for weed control (due diligence, timelines);
re-establishing the integrity of the ecosystem as close as possible to its original state.
The study found that the Aslings Beach ecosytem has a a diverse community of its original indigenous plants and a lot of competing exotic invaders. The ecosystem is comprehensively described and documented. For example:
Canopy: represented by Banksia integrifolia (Coast Banksia), Acacia sophorae (Coastal Wattle), Leptospermum laevigatum (Coast Tea Tree), Melaleuca armillaris (Giant Honey Myrtle) and Pittosporum undulatum (Pittosporum).
Central Zone: shrubby plants such as Leucopogon parviflorus (Coastal Beardedheath) and Rhagodia candolleanan (Seaberry Saltbush).
Sandy area: bound with plants closer to the water and included Spinifex sericeus (Beach spinifex), Calystegia soldanelle (Sea Bindweek), Carpobrotus glaucescens (Pigface) Zoysia macrantha (Prickly Couch) and Acites megalocarpa (Dune Thistle). Native grass was found further back from the water – Stipa verticillata (Spear Grass) and Pelargonium australe (Native Storksbill) and others.
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One of the native weeds is edible and is offered as a ‘speciality’ in restaurants in the area: Tetragonia tetragonoides – Family Aizoaceae also called Warrigal Cabbage, Botany Bay Greens, New Zealand Spinach (Native) Herbaceous perennial. Large fleshy “spinach-like” leaves, bright green. Small yellow flowers. Recorded on Aslings Beach, Eden 2003, Section A Dune-Lake. |
The project resulted in publication of a booklet containing a list of native and exotic plants found on each section of Aslings Beach with details about a whole range of flora in the area accompanied by beautiful photographs to aid identification. It also provides a clear guide to weed control strategies and sound discussion and advice on the practicalities of the task under the headings: Lifecycle, Pull, Chip, Dig, Sieve, Slash or Mow, Bag Fruit or Seed, Bio-Control, Chem-Control and Special Cautions. There is a section on Health and Safety considerations, a Site Risk Assessment Form and a comprehensive list of additional references. The project outline is very easy to follow and could readily be translated to other areas as an enjoyable school or community project. The study teaches identification of plants, differentiation of indigenous from exotic species and environmental care – and is all done on the beach!
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Personal note: I found many plants that brought back memories. For example, despite discovering it is an exotic weed (common name, Capeweed), I was delightfully surprised to see a picture of Arctotheca calendula, the yellow petalled daisy that I used to thread into daisy chains as a child. Also an illustration of the Medicago sp. weed so intensively studied by colleagues at CSIRO Plant Industry here in Canberra. Such illustrations are not always easy to find. AR |
Excerpts from the booklet are copyright and reproduced here with permission from the Eden Foreshore Committee. The booklet costs $75.00 (limited print-runs) plus postage and is available from the Eden Foreshore Committee, Bega Valley Shire Council, PO Box 243, Eden NSW 2551. ISBN: 0-646-43473-X