Download Dunes of the Gold Coast

Dunes of the Gold Coast
Why are dune systems important?
Dunes are critical to the health of our beaches. They are
buffer zones that reduce the impacts of shoreline
variability on our city. The major sand deposits of South
East Queensland formed 10,000 years ago, but the
frontal dunes were formed more recently (2000-3000
years ago).
Cover up those dunes!
Vegetation is very important to the maintenance of the
dune system. It protects the beach from erosive wave
action. If the dunes are in a healthy condition, vegetation
can regenerate naturally after a storm. Dune vegetation
tolerates a hostile environment of high winds, salt spray,
sand blast and limited water availability. Within the dune
community, plants are dependent on each other for
protection and nutrient supply.1
Figure 1. A Gold Coast dune profile
What kind of dunes?
There are two main types of sand dune formations on
the Gold Coast: beach ridges and low dune mobile sand
sheets:
♦
♦
Beach ridges usually sit parallel to the beach.
Younger ones (closest to the sea) are all sand,
whilst the older (more inland) ridges feature a
more fertile soil profile, capable of supporting a
more complex vegetation structure
Low dune mobile sand sheets usually face the
direction of the prevailing wind, and (as their
name suggests) are always moving, with sand
being blown about by wind. Vegetation on these
sand sheets is typically less established
Rolling frontal dunes on South Stradbroke Island
(Source: GCCC)
Where are our dunes?
Sandy dunes occur naturally along
the coastline of the city, interspersed
with rocky headlands. Council
undertakes protective works to
improve the health of our dunes.
Common species on our dunes
Gold Coast dune health
Name
Description
Location
Spinifex
sericeus
(Spinifex)
♦
♦
Leaves silvery-hairy
♦
Many long-pointed bracts
form roly-poly
Common,
primary
sand
stabilisation
species
Carpobrotus
glaucescens
(Pig Face)
Casuarina
equisetifolia
(Coastal
She-oak)
Banksia
integrifolia
(Coastal
Banksia)
Male and female flowers
feature on separate plants
♦
♦
Prostrate, spreading
♦
Edible fruits
♦
Graceful weeping tree up
to 10m tall
♦
Fine rigid branchlets are
needle-like and jointed
with tiny teeth
♦
Seeds found in woody
cones
♦
♦
Up to 15m tall
♦
Yellow flowers, spike
cylindrical to 15cm long
♦
Seed cone splits open to
release paper thin seeds
Common
Leaves triangular in crosssection, fleshy
Heath and
open forest
on mid and
high dunes
Dunes and their vegetation can be damaged by many
natural forces such as:
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
Waves generated by cyclones and storms
Saltwater inundation
Strong winds and sandblast
Droughts
Fires
Insect and parasitic attack
Sometimes our activities in the coastal zone can also
affect dune health, including:
♦ Beachfront development
♦ Mowing, fertilising and topsoiling of dunes
♦ Pedestrian and vehicular traffic (tramples
vegetation)
♦ Weeds and feral animals can disturb native
Common
ecological communities, reducing their resilience
to the harsh conditions of the dune environment
Dark green leaves with
silver-white underside
Rolling secondary dunes on South Stradbroke Island
(Source: GCCC)
Spinifex (Source: GCCC)
Pig Face (Source: GCCC)
Looking after our dunes
The majority of mainland dunes have been impacted by
adjacent development. Gold Coast City Council has extensive
dune management programs, working alongside several
community groups to minimise the impact of past and future
coastal development. For more information, see information
sheet Looking after our dunes.
Coastal She-oak
(Source: GCCC)
Coastal Banksia
(Source: GCCC)
Reference
1. Leaflet from series ‘Coastal Sand Dunes – their vegetation and
management’ Beach Protection Authority of Queensland (1975)
Importance of dune vegetation (Leaflet No. 3 issue 4)