Maroochydore sand dunes boosted with 17,000 plants

Revegetation of the dunes along Maroochydore Beach is underway this week, as council begins planting the first of more than 17,000 native species to help build dunal resilience following the sand-pumping.

Division 8 Councillor Jason O’Pray said the revegetation is an important part of the sand renourishment project.

“The sand-pumping has taken the beach from an eroded stretch of coffee rock back to the fantastic sandy beach we have previously known and loved,” he said.

“This revegetation is the next step in boosting resilience of the dunes and helping to protect public facilities and infrastructure along Alexandra Parade and Aerodrome Road during severe erosion events.

“We will revegetate just over 5850 square metres in total.”

Cr O’Pray said this planting day was the first step in a large council and community effort, which will continue into early 2014.

“Today’s planting is a community event – the Stockland Group will be helping council and the community with the planting as part of council’s Corporate Volunteering Program,” he said.

“The plants have also been propagated by the volunteer-run Coolum Native Nursery.”

Division 4 Councillor Chris Thompson said the plants would help stabilise sand on the newly formed dunes.

“Boosting the vegetation with native plants helps trap sand that is blown across the beach to kick start the natural dune building process,” he said.

Cr Thompson said the rest of the revegetation would occur at a community planting day in November.

“This is the first in a series of community planting days for this project – there will be a big volunteer event on Saturday 16 November from 8am to 11am,” he said.

“It will be a great family day out and we need as many volunteers as possible, so if you can lend a hand please turn up at Pierce Park on the day.”

Fencing will be in place around the dunes to protect the new plants.