Funding needed for beach, but not to destroy dunes
With reference to the article in edition 593 of Peninsula News (April 29) regarding a Petition for upgrade of Ettalong Beach, I would like to point out that the western section of Ettalong Beach close to Ettalong Point is not suitable for swimming.
Therefore it would be extremely inadvisable for family activities to be encouraged on the beach in this area, when other locations are much more suitable and safer.
The beach here has always been popular for fishing as the water is very deep close to the beach and there are very strong currents.
Recently two one-metre flathead were caught from the beach at this location so there are undoubtedly much larger animals in the water, which is the entrance to Brisbane Water right at Half Tide Rocks.
It is definitely not suitable for swimming and the water is in fact very dangerous and is where a man drowned earlier this year.
It is presently also a popular meeting place for jet-ski riders.
The section of the beach that is very family-friendly is the northern section between the Box Restaurant and the Public Wharf and has been for more than 100 years.
Unfortunately, hundreds of metres of this beach are at present virtually unusable for swimming, walking and boating as the beach has eroded and large rocks in the water make it hazardous.
The rocks in the water appeared soon after the building of a revetment wall in 2015 and require complete removal if satisfactory remediation of the beach is to be achieved.
It is this northern section of the beach that requires funding for restoration, as it is presently in a woeful state and detracts from the attraction of the whole area.
It is readily accessible from Lance Webb Reserve and parking is available in the nearby streets.
The cost of restoration of this section of beach would probably soon be recovered from increased tourism.
I have been swimming at Ettalong Beach for 70 years along the northern section.
The water has been clean, sandy, shallow and safe in the past.
I have never even considered swimming near the Point because of the inherent dangers, and it distresses me to see young children in the deep water there, even though parts of the beach itself are in the best condition almost in living memory.
It seems that people who swim there must be oblivious to the hazards.
With respect to the proposals mentioned in the article, the wide dunes in the areas on both sides of the Point between The Esplanade road and the beach have natural vegetation that has taken years to re-establish and are vitally important to prevent erosion of the beach, which in this area has been severe in the past.
Destroying the dunes and creating more hard surfaces and car parking would be a disaster.
The natural vegetation is a haven for birds and other creatures and is absolutely essential for the environment and natural resistance to weathering of the beach.
The natural dunes are beautiful in themselves and do not need further man-made "beautification".
Hopefully, funding can be found for the restoration of damage to Ettalong Beach, but not for destruction of dunes and vegetation and creation of hard surfaces.
SOURCE:
Email, 10 May 2024
Peter Brell, Ettalong Beach