| Whether global warming is the cause of climate | | | | over the local council took 8 years!....just to |
| change or not, recent extreme weather events | | | | protect his property. His proposed action that |
| are an observable fact. There is no doubt they | | | | involved using rockfill where erosion was |
| have put additional pressure on coastal | | | | occurringwas not viewed favourably by council for |
| environments. | | | | reasons within their supposed authority. |
| A large proportion of the Australian population and | | | | Traditional erosion protection systems such as |
| many parts of the world live in coastal | | | | rock fill are usually cumbersome and expensive. |
| communities and so coastal erosion is a major | | | | There is an erosion protection system that is fast |
| concern. | | | | and relatively low cost that householders may be |
| Most available protective solutions against | | | | able to utilise, either individually or as a group, |
| erosion-causing forces are either too expensive | | | | without the need to get council endorsement. |
| and/or likely to have adverse consequential | | | | It is a geotextile product called 'Growth Matt' |
| effects on other parts of the coastline. University | | | | which provides a solid stabilising structure much in |
| of NSW coastal engineering studies attest to this. | | | | the nature of a garden bed, as it allows |
| A seawall built at point A, can change the forces | | | | vegetation to establish and grow through its |
| at work at point B further up or down the coast. | | | | panels. The area would have to be suitable for |
| It's a complex system that cannot be universally | | | | appropriate vegetation growth if this particular |
| addressed by man-made solutions. | | | | style of geotextile is to be used. Each situation |
| So without interfering with nature's forces by | | | | would need to be assessed in consultation with a |
| building sea walls, reefs, or similar, can buffering of | | | | qualified installer as it involves a technique of |
| existing coastal landforms provide some | | | | pumping the geotextile fabric with grout. |
| remedy,interim or longer term, using a relatively | | | | One consideration would be accessibility to the |
| low cost approach that geotextiles provide? | | | | site for ready-mix concrete supply and the |
| Geotextile grout mattress systems have been | | | | placement of truck-mounted grout pump. The |
| extensively used in many areas relating to water | | | | specialised grout mix does allow it to be pumped |
| and water erosion, including the protection of | | | | over distance but there are limits. |
| embankments on roads and bridges, wharves and | | | | No major earthworks are normally required and, |
| harbours. Its versatility is further demonstrated | | | | given the scope of the work, no council approval |
| by its use in lining dams, ponds, waterways, | | | | should be required. |
| channels, spillways, drains and culverts. | | | | Now if you want the council to pay it's likely a |
| It's also been used for sea walls and beach | | | | different issue, but maybe councils should be |
| protection in circumstances of mild wave action. | | | | exploring such methods in addressing the very |
| Generally these are fairly major works initiated by | | | | serious issue of coastal erosion in any case. |
| the relevant authorities. | | | | Perhaps such micro measures are, if not the |
| However, householders under threat or potential | | | | answer, a step in the right direction. |
| threat from coastal erosion may wish to address | | | | This may not be sustainable protection in the face |
| this independent of authorities such as the local | | | | of rising sea levels or more extreme weather |
| council. Among other things, there is likely to be a | | | | events, but given the value of coastline buildings |
| long running argument with council over | | | | residences, its worth exploring if only as short |
| responsibility to take action. Even the recent "win" | | | | term or interim measure. |
| in court by an Australian resident in Byron Bay | | | | |