Case Study: Belongil Beach
Coastal Management
Byron Bay, Northern NSW
Location
* An oceanside town in the northern beaches region of New South Wales (28°38’35.04”S, 153°36’54.47”)
Major Issues and Geographical Processes/Effects * Erosion and rising sea levels present themselves as the most major issues; * Particularly on the strip of coast known as Belongil Beach * Erosion along Belongil has created major obstacles for the construction of new buildings, and the preservation of pre-existing estates; with many having already been destroyed due to the instability of sand/soil structure. * Rising sea levels threaten to engulf and flood out seafront homes, hence also weakening housing foundations and rendering them uninhabitable. …show more content…
Such a belief is based upon the idea that without being physically altered, the environment will always maintain a healthy balance of organisms and ecosystems. However, such beliefs often disprove of people going ‘against natures will’ and using artificial means of preserving life.
Individual, Group and Government Responses * Actions taken; * The Local Council with their ‘coastal retreat policy’ has prevented any physical barrier from being created to block off the sea from the land, hence allowing the ocean to gradually engulf further into the coastline. * By creating conservation zones within the coastal area, various ecosystems and wildlife have been protected and sustained physically – with areas such as sanctuary zones and habitat protection zones created in order to maintain the ecology within the respective areas. As a result, activities such as fishing and smoking may be prohibited. * Implications; * Preventing any form of separation from being constructed in between the land and the sea greatly increases the chance of the inland area from being affected by rising sea levels, with the life on the coastline being placed at a much higher risk – a much smaller chance of
Byron Bay, Northern NSW
Location
* An oceanside town in the northern beaches region of New South Wales (28°38’35.04”S, 153°36’54.47”)
Major Issues and Geographical Processes/Effects * Erosion and rising sea levels present themselves as the most major issues; * Particularly on the strip of coast known as Belongil Beach * Erosion along Belongil has created major obstacles for the construction of new buildings, and the preservation of pre-existing estates; with many having already been destroyed due to the instability of sand/soil structure. * Rising sea levels threaten to engulf and flood out seafront homes, hence also weakening housing foundations and rendering them uninhabitable. …show more content…
Such a belief is based upon the idea that without being physically altered, the environment will always maintain a healthy balance of organisms and ecosystems. However, such beliefs often disprove of people going ‘against natures will’ and using artificial means of preserving life.
Individual, Group and Government Responses * Actions taken; * The Local Council with their ‘coastal retreat policy’ has prevented any physical barrier from being created to block off the sea from the land, hence allowing the ocean to gradually engulf further into the coastline. * By creating conservation zones within the coastal area, various ecosystems and wildlife have been protected and sustained physically – with areas such as sanctuary zones and habitat protection zones created in order to maintain the ecology within the respective areas. As a result, activities such as fishing and smoking may be prohibited. * Implications; * Preventing any form of separation from being constructed in between the land and the sea greatly increases the chance of the inland area from being affected by rising sea levels, with the life on the coastline being placed at a much higher risk – a much smaller chance of