With strong surf conditions and the highest tides of the year in recent days, Byron Shire Council is warning the community about the hidden dangers of dune escarpment collapse across the Shire’s coastline.

“Our dunes were battered by Tropical Cyclone Alfred but also continue to be impacted by recent moderate swell and elevated tides – and further erosion continues,” Byron Shire Mayor, Sarah Ndiaye said.

“We know the collapse of a dune can cause serious injury and death, and this has happened in other areas like the Gold Coast, only in the last few months.

“I know they look fun, but it can be dangerous and do detrimental damage to our fragile dunes,” the Mayor said.

“We’ve seen adults using the edge of steep escarpments to check the surf and kids playing, sliding, climbing, and swinging on the roots and digging into the dunes.

“The dunes are not a playground for our kids. The last thing they need is further damage, so please stay away,” the Mayor said.

Council is hoping the NSW Government will provide some grant funding for measures to protect the dunes along the northern NSW coastline.

“We have successfully implemented beach nourishing projects in the past to help stabilise and rebuild dunes along Byron Bay’s Main Beach and at New Brighton, but this all costs money and we simply don’t have the funds for this,” Mayor Ndiaye said. “We have been lobbying various Ministers for support,” she said.

Council has closed many beach access paths to not only protect the fragile dune system from further damage, but to stop people falling down the steep drops that are up to four metres high at some beach accesses and triple that height along the open coast.

“Dunes are home to a lot of small birds, animals and insects as well as plants, so this is a time to heed the signage, stay off the dunes, and walk a little bit further to a beach access that is open and safe,” the Mayor said.

Council’s Open Spaces Team undertakes regular inspections of all Byron Shire beach accesses for safety.

The community can notify Council about dangerous-looking erosion via Report It.