WORSENING coastal erosion along Stockton Beach has created a series of dangerous drop-offs and made large sections of the beach virtually impassable.
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A relentless series of storms over the past two years has stripped hundreds thousands of tonnes of sand from the 22-kilometre beachfront.
National Parks and Wildlife Service ranger Tony DeMamiel said a series of severe storms meant large parts of the dune system had not had a chance to recover.
‘‘The erosions are detrimental to the beach area because it creates an unstable driving area and the salt water sits in the dunes,’’ he said.
‘‘The main message we want to get across is if you see an area that you think is unsafe assess it to make sure it’s safe before driving on it.’’
The ongoing erosion has also resulted in a lower and steeper beach profile than existed five years ago.
‘‘June 2012 had a storm that washed away the beach front and caused certain swell areas,’’ Mr DeMamiel said.
‘‘Driving vehicles on the beach creates low points and emphasises the high points,’’
Worimi Conservatoin Lands Board of Management chairwoman Petrice Manton urged all visitors to the beach to exercise caution this Easter.
‘‘The southerly swell has made the beachfront inaccessible in a number of locations and people should only travel at low tide and be prepared for rapidly changing beach driving conditions,’’ she said.
National Parks and Wildlife Service staff repaired a series of exposed Aboriginal midden sites last year.
The middens are ancient eating and tool-making areas that contain thousands of pieces of shell and stone. The restoration project involved covering the middens with geotextile cloth before recovering the site with sand.
