case study amity point – perseverance &...

Amity PointPerseverance & Persistence

Qld Coastal Conference 2017Tim Mitchell (Redland City Council)

Paul O’Brien (Water Technology)

Presentation Aim

• Provide a brief history of Amity Point, from a coastal perspective

• Outline the coastal processes impacting the township

• Provide a brief summary of the latest planning project

• Outline the proposed way forward

Context• Amity Point is located on the north-west corner of North

Stradbroke Island.• Population of 387 (ABS 2016)• Historical development has been coastal oriented

Quandamooka Country• The Quandamooka people have lived on Minjerribah

(NSI) for at least 25,000 years– Pulan Pulan (Amity Point)– Traditional home of the Nununkul people

• Native Title Determination was made in 2011 recognising the Quandamooka people – Exclusive rights to about 2,264 hectares of land– Non-exclusive rights to approximately:

• 22,639 hectares onshore• 29,505hectares offshore

Previous Planning/Investigations• Past investigations and reports:

– Patterson , D. 1970. Amity Point Erosion. Beach Protection Authority, Qld (unpubl.)– Higgins, R.J. 1970. The erosion of Amity Point Beach, University of Queensland. B.Eng. Thesis

(unpubl.)– Edwards, B.N. 1971 An investigation into the erosion problem at Amity Point. University of

Queensland. B. Eng. Thesis (unpubl.)– Eberhardt, J.M. 1978. Erosion at Amity Point – An example of shoreline recession in a tidal inlet,

University of Queensland

• Local Planning Instruments– 1988 Redlands Planning Scheme (Designated Area for dwellings)

• State Government – SEQ Regional Coastal Management Plan 2004– Queensland Coastal Plan 2011

Coastal Processes• A significant change of tidal waters occurs between

Moreton Bay and the open ocean– Rouse Channel (East/West)– Rainbow Channel (North/South)

• Rainbow Channel is now the dominant tidal influence and has been migrating for at least the past 100 years (since 1892)

• The eastward channel migration has resulted in the north-west tip of NSI being severely impacted

Coastal Processes

Foreshore Protection• The local community were always determined to ‘hold the line’• Historical attempts included:

– Wooden groynes (1955)– Trees– Boats – Car bodies– Fridges or scrap metal

• Use of Rock– Rock groynes constructed 1972 – Southern end of Amity Point– Used more frequently for foreshore protection in the 1970s – Historically was sourced from at least 2 quarries on the island

FORESHORE MONTAGE

Amity Point Early 1900s

Southern end of Amity facing North

Dune ProfileBeach Width

Amity Point – The Evolving Shoreline

Amity Point Forbes Cabins 1979Photo courtesy Ellie Durbidge


1989


1993

SEMP Part I • Council sought to develop a SEMP in 2011/12• Traditional SEMP project, investigate the coastal process, define

level of risk and recommend suitable management options• Limited community consultation undertaken through project

– Contributed to a lack of community support for project• Resulted in a reactive engagement process

– Ultimately Council were reluctant to endorse the final document a SEMP

– Outcome • Document became a Shoreline Erosion Study, with commitment to complete a

SEMP at a later date

SEMP Part II • Project initiated September 2015• Project Aim

– Understanding the coastal hazards• Greater emphasis on investigating the foreshore

– Consider innovative approach to managing the foreshore, being mindful of the life of a SEMP and the long

– Management Pathways option– Community engagement fundamental component to the project

• Specific issues to resolve– Policy vacuum– Rock armouring is an unapproved structure

SEMP Part II• What we know now of the erosion threat

– Typically a consequence of the following:• Short term episodic erosion of sand foreshores• Long term on-going erosion to sand foreshores (imbalance of littoral transport

regime)• Eastern migration of Rainbow Channel• Flow slide events/retrogressive breach failures (RBFs)

– Separated recommended management options into three precincts:• Southern Reach (Camping Ground Foreshore)• Central Reach (Flow Slide Barrier)• Northern Reach (Amity Beach)

Rainbow Channel Bathymetry

Presence of rock

-25m

-20m

-10-15m

Large sand waves

Geophysical Survey

• Project Aim:– Determine the lateral extent

and depth of rock over the land and water

– Test anecdotal stories of the amount of rock dumped over the years

Throughout the project and during previous projects a regular comment was that huge amounts of rock have been dumped along the foreshore.

Geophysical Survey

SEMP Findings

• There is more rock present along the foreshore than can be seen

• There is an opportunity to implement a proactive management option

• Outstanding issues– The rock armouring is not an approved structure

– There is policy vacuum in managing the foreshore

Future Planning• Where to from here:

– The SEMP is the first step in developing a holistic policy and management plan for Amity Point.

– Further work is required to compliment the SEMP.• Develop a detailed Implementation Plan

– Comprehensive financial analysis, incorporating risk assessment.– Clear process outlining roles, responsibilities and method for

implementing recommended actions– Address legislative/regulatory requirements

• Detailed design of a flow slide barrier– Inform a tidal works application (test the possibility of an approval)

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case study amity point – perseverance &...

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