A Big Step Forward – Saving Suffo’s Sand Dunes
A major dune recovery project has been proposed & a grant application submitted to restore & strengthen 1.5km of Suffolk Park Beach, protect dune habitat, the Cape Byron Marine Park & improve public beach access.
There is some exciting news for our coastline.
A NSW Coastal & Estuary Grant has been lodged by Byron Shire Council for the proposed Suffolk Park Beach Dune Recovery Project. The comprehensive application seeks support to restore & strengthen approximately 1.5 kilometres of our coastal dune system, from the Macgregor Street beach access in the south through to the Alcorn Street cycle path access in the north.
The application is seeking just under $170,000 for the project & was submitted in August. Here is what this could mean for Suffolk's beach.
Why Do Our Dunes Need Help?
Our dunes have been under significant pressure since Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March 2025, followed by ongoing coastal erosion & massive south-easterly swell conditions.
The impact has been substantial.
Council’s assessment recorded that by June 2026, the erosion escarpment had moved up to 12 metres further landward compared with the position immediately after Cyclone Alfred in March 2025.
That has meant:
The tyre issue is particularly concerning.
Over 50 years ago, old tyres were used to stabilise informal tracks across the dunes. As erosion continues, these tyres are being exposed & have been washed into the sea or moved onto the beach, creating pollution in our Marine Park & environmental hazards.
What Happens To The Old Tracks?
This is one of the more complex aspects of the proposed project and will require careful, site-by-site consideration.
Nothing has been decided about individual tracks. If funding is secured, Council will determine then the best path forward. The aim is a balanced one: to focus on the overall heath of the dunes and longer term stability of this important ecological environment.
What About The Public Accessways?
There are eight formal public beach accessways within the project area:
Council undertook major repairs following Cyclone Alfred, but ongoing coastal conditions have continued to damage the accessways, meaning some have needed multiple further repairs.
The proposed project aims to move beyond repeated short-term repairs towards more durable restoration, including appropriate fencing & measures to help direct people through designated access points.
Cleaning Up A Legacy Problem
Another really positive part of the project is the proposed removal of old waste & unauthorised materials creating marine pollution from the dunes.
That includes exposed tyres, remnants of fencing, besa blocks, sand bags & other materials associated with historic informal access ways.
It isn't just about making the beach look better.
Removing this material can help protect the dunes, reduce pollution, protect the marine environment & improve public safety.
It is also an opportunity to deal with a legacy problem before further erosion exposes even more buried material & pollutes the Cape Byron Marine Park.
Helping The Dunes Recover Naturally
The project isn't simply about removing things.
At its heart, it is about helping the dune system recover.
The proposed works include weed control, direct seeding & planting of appropriate native dune species such as Spinifex & Goat’s Foot, together with brush matting & other natural materials to discourage access across sensitive areas.
The idea is to help vegetation establish & trap sand naturally, allowing the dune system to rebuild over time.
It is a soft stabilisation approach that works with the natural coastal system rather than trying to fight it.
A Role For The Community
Another important part of this project is community involvement.
The proposal includes ongoing collaboration with Suffolk Park Community Association, the established Suffolk Park Dune Care group, local residents & directly affected landholders.
There could also be opportunities for volunteer planting days, dune restoration activities & ongoing monitoring.
The community shouldn't simply be told what is happening. There is an opportunity for local people to be involved in the recovery & long-term care of the dunes.
Why Does This Matter?
A Positive Step Forward
for country The project has now been submitted, so there is still a process to go through. We also need to respect the confidentiality around the submission & funding arrangements until the appropriate information can be publicly released.
But the direction is very encouraging.
After the damage our coastline has experienced over the past 18 months, Suffolk Park has an opportunity to take a much more coordinated approach to: restore our dunes, remove legacy waste, address damaging informal access, protect native vegetation, improve public access & strengthen our coastline for the future.
This is the kind of practical environmental work that can make a real difference on the ground.
For a community that cares for country & so deeply about its beach & dunes, that’s something worth celebrating.
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