Tag Archives: dunes

New Dunecare Program

UCG is excited to announce an expanded Dunecare program with Central Coast Council. Through this initiative we will be able to have an even greater impact on the health of the dunes between Umina Beach and Ocean Beach SLSC’s.

Dunecare will now be running every Wednesday from 9am-11am (winter hours). We welcome new volunteers!  Meeting points will vary depending on the week in the month. We are eager to get weeding and planting and see the positive effects we can have on the dune system.
Beach entrance meeting points:

  • Ocean Beach Rd – 1st Wednesday of each month
  • Berith St – 2nd Wednesday of each month
  • South St – 3rd & 4th Wednesday of each month

Dune Revegetation Grant

Today Umina Community Group announces that it has received a grant of $55,000 from Greater Sydney Local Land Services through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme to stabilise and repair the incipient dunes and the foredunes between Ettalong Point and the Umina Beach Surf Lifesaving Club.

Grant Announcement

Lucy Wicks MP, Landcare, South Street Bushcare, Gosford City Council and UCG representatives inspect the Umina Dunes as part of the Grant announcement.

Federal Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks said it was great to see funding being delivered for this important project on the Peninsula.
“The Australian Government is investing $2 billion over four years in managing natural resources, enabling communities to take practical action. This includes $55,000 for this project here on the Central Coast,” Mrs Wicks said.
“The Landcare Programme is designed to be simple, local, long term and targeting on-ground works. It’s about putting community groups back at the centre of regional land management, to develop the most effective ways to manage and protect our precious natural assets.”
“Much of the coast took a battering in the recent storms, making this sand dune restoration project even more vital. It’s great to see that through the Umina Community Group, and engagement with the schools and the Surf Clubs the local community is coming on board and working hard on this restoration.”
Funding will be used to employ approved local contractors to remove weed infestation and dumped rubbish from the dunes. Three local volunteer groups will work with the contractors and follow up with revegetation by planting local native species including Spinifex grass, Pigface, and Coastal Wattles.
Umina Community Group spokesman, Tony Winch said “ This is exciting news for Umina Beach and for the environment. The dunes are in a very poor state and the ecosystem has been severely damaged by the infestation of noxious weeds including Bitou Bush, Lantana, Turkey Rhubarb, and Asparagus Fern, and they are littered with rubbish. We aim to clean up the dunes over the next 24 months under the supervision and leadership of the Gosford City Council’s Bushcare program. Three local volunteer groups will be involved, the South Street Bushcare group, the Peninsula Dunecare group, and the newly established Umina Community Dunecare Group “
“Gosford City Council congratulates the Umina Community Group on receiving this grant from Local Land Services to work with the local community to improve the condition of dune vegetation at Umina Beach,” Council’s Manager of Culture Phil Cantillon said.
“The storm in April and subsequent beach erosion has been a reminder of the importance of maintaining healthy dune vegetation. The work of the Umina Community Group and the Bushcare groups at Umina is an excellent example of the community and Council working together to improve the local environment.”
Local residents are invited to a public information evening to be held at 7 PM on the 23rd of July at the Umina Beach Surf Life Saving Club. Following this initial open night there will be engagement with Schools, clubs, and community organizations.
Anyone who wishes to volunteer would be welcome and should contact Umina Community Group,

Coastal Zone Study Submission

Submission to Gosford City Council for the Coastal Zone Management Plan Ocean/Umina Beach
Umina Community Group’s submission covers the coastal area from Ettalong Creek (Berrima Street) at the Western extremity to Ettalong Point (Barrenjoey Road) in the East. We note that there are four distinct areas within this beautiful coast which has a heritage of providing enjoyment to beachgoers for over 100 years.

  •   The immediate area adjacent to Ettalong Creek, which is High Risk
  •   East of Ettalong Creek to Umina Beach Surf Life Saving Club, which is Low Risk
  •   East from Umina Beach SLSC to Ocean Beach SLSC, which is Medium Risk
  •   East from Ocean Beach SLSC to Ettalong Point, which is High Risk

Embodied within the report are our key recommendations which are as follows:

  •   That the existing dune structure which protects the beach and the assets beyond the beach be maintained
  •   That development on the dune protecting the beach be restricted by development controls
  •   That a Dune Management Plan be implemented to sustain and enhance the current dune structure and ecosystems

The submission is the work of a dedicated group of volunteers who have a close relationship with our coast, its history, and who all have a passionate desire to hand on to future generations a beach area which can contribute to the enjoyment of residents and visitors to Ocean/Umina Beach.
We commend this submission to the Council and to other interested parties, and hope that it provides valuable insights into the wider community’s opinions and the past, present, and future of Umina Beach. Protecting the coast and the assets in the immediate region comes down to ensuring that the existing dune structure is maintained, protected, and nurtured. This is critical to the future of our community. We want to pass on to future generations the unspoiled beauty and natural ambience of Umina Beach currently enjoyed by our community and visitors to our wonderful beaches.
We thank the Gosford City Council for facilitating the process of public engagement and comment during the preparation of the Coastal Zone Management Plan and look forward to ongoing involvement in creating a better future for the 16,000 people who live in Umina Beach.

Umina Community Group (inc) 10th February 2015

You can read the submission here UCG CZMP Submission Final.

Dune Protection Funding

Umina Beach Sand Dunes are a vital part of our local community, providing the informal natural look of our beach, protecting our homes and streets from storms, and home for local coastal plant species and animals.

It is tremendous to see state government funding to Gosford City Council’s Bushcare programs to complete protective and improvement work along Umina and Ocean Beach.

Beaches are best in the state
Denice Barnes Gosford Mayor Lawrie McKinna, Central Coast Minister Rob Stokes, dune care volunteer Chris Anderson and Gosford Liberal MP Chris Holstein
Central Coast Express Advocate Gosford
1 Oct 2014

CENTRAL Coast beaches are among the best in the country and the state government is aiming to keep them that way. Central Coast Minister Rob Stokes, who also Environment Minister, met with Gosford Mayor Lawrie McKinna, Gosford state Liberal MP Chris…read more…