Be a good foreshore neighbour
Vegetation damage framed by dying vegetation
Naturally vegetated coast, lake and river foreshores are an intrinsic part of Noosa’s attraction to residents and visitors. They contribute to our social and economic well-being and have environmental values like wildlife habitat, erosion management, beach stabilisation and community climate change resilience.
But how foreshores look and function can be affected by their neighbours and visitors. Being a good foreshore neighbour can help keep them in good condition now and in the future.
Threats
Private beach access trampling erosion
Trampling: Straying from public paths tramples native plants, spread weeds and causes erosion. Making or using private paths clears native vegetation, causes erosion and spreads weeds. They create weak spots for severe weather impacts and opens the foreshore to increased salt, wind and storm damage.
Vegetation damage: Pruning, cutting, breaking, pulling, poisoning and clearing native vegetation – including trees, shrubs and ground covers - on the dune and foreshores makes the remaining vegetation more vulnerable to weeds, wind and salt damage. It reduces the foreshore’s ability to mitigate severe weather, reduce sediment and erosion and be wildlife corridors and habitat
Dogs in dunes: Dogs in dunes can cause erosion on steep slopes and fragile front dunes and scare or attack wildlife. Their droppings can discourage wildlife, spread disease and make working in the dunes very unpleasant for our bush regenerators and bushcare volunteers.
Yard extensions: Replacing community bushland with a private garden or structures and storage for belongings, materials or vehicles degrades the bush, spreads weeds and blocks emergency and management access. Reducing the width of often already narrow vegetated foreshores reduces their ability to mitigate extreme weather, improve water quality, reduce sediment and erosion and be wildlife corridors and habitat.
Garden plant escapees: Most environmental weeds start out as ornamental plants, and many garden plants will happily spread in bushland by seed, suckers and runners. Monitor for your garden plants spreading over your boundary and control before they do.
Garden rubbish dumping: Dumping garden rubbish in community bushland can introduce weeds and replace diverse mixes of native plants with infestations of just a few weeds. Rubbish dumps are an attractive ignition point for arsonists, can cause a fire to flare and block emergency and management access.
How can I help?
- Stay on the public beach accesses and paths
- Protect native vegetation
- Keep your dog out of the dunes
- Keep your property on your property
- Remove environmental weeds from your garden and replace with local natives
- Compost garden rubbish on your property or dispose in your green waste bin
Find out more on caring for bushland reserves.