Silver Beach |
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| Silver Beach at Kurnell is today characterised by 14 rockwall 'groynes' which project into Botany Bay. The first eight of these groynes were constructed in 1969-70 in response to severe beach erosion which was concentrated on the eastern end. |
Photo: Daphne Salt |
It has been suggested that this erosion was due to dredging associated with the construction of the oil refinery in 1955 which included dredging of channels and berths for oil tankers and subsequent maintenance dredging and channel deepening in the 1960s. This dredging increased the intensity of wave energy impacting on the eastern end of the beach and also altered the direction of waves. The groynes were therefore constructed to halt the erosion and have been successful in stabilising the shoreline. But it has been suggested that stabilising the shoreline at Silver Beach has had impacts elsewhere.
Theories suggest that the supply of sand to Towra Beach has been cut off and as a result, instability and erosion is evident. This then has further flow-on effects for Towra Spit Island.
Silver Beach is also site of dune care activities involving weed removal and propagation of native species. Volunteers are supervised and coordinated by the Bushcare section of Sutherland Shire Council.
Silver Beach has also been earmarked for consideration in the Kurnell Peninsula Landscape Masterplan which will include management actions designed to facilitate movement of birds from the National Park to Bonna Point Reserve. |
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