Cronulla Beach Research Assignment

The 2014 Great Barrier Reef outlook report identifies ports as a moderate to major threat to the Great Barrier Reef, and outlines the impacts port activity has, including dredging and dumping of waste, increased risk of oil and chemical spills, and diminished aesthetic values. It also links problems with ports with shipping issues impacting the reef.

Barangaroo is an ambitious urban renewal project happening currently in Sydney. Since its approval in 2007, the Barangaroo project has been the focal point for groups such as Lend Lease to reestablish Sydney’s mark in the world. The project embodies urban efficiency and environmental sustainability (named as being “climate positive ”) with world-class architecture/design. Barangaroo is a historically prevalent landmark of Sydney with Aboriginal associations of the Cadigal people. Primarily being used as a loading dock for incoming ships, Barangaroo has and will be further transformed into a multifarious region of Sydney with Residential, Tourism and Recreation as the pivotal points of it. The Site will be divided into 3 main sections: Barangaroo South (tourism and retail); Barangaroo Central (Recreation, entertainment) and Barangaroo Point (Grand harbor Park of Sydney).

The human impact on the reef has caused a lot of damage and so in 1971 the City of Onkaparinga, State Government, Coast care groups and environmental organisations all had supported a decision to protect the reef. So the reef has now a reserved part which is protected and separated from the one open to tourists. The positive effect of human intervention has been creating this 300 ha of aquatic reserve to safe

The history of Surf Life Saving started in the early part of the 20th century when citizens started to embrace the ocean as a site ‘our love of the beach emerged’ which led to ‘becoming the largest volunteer movement of it’s kind in the world’ (citation). Because of the capitalist system that we live in Bondi-Beach started using celebrity endorsement and creating reality television programs such as ‘Bondi Rescue’, ‘Being Lara Bingle’ or ’Bondi Vet’ in order to promote the site, its services as well as develop the popular culture which is is often viewed as being ‘dumbed down’, as a result it comes under ‘heavy criticism from various non-mainstream sources which deem it superficial, consumerist sensationalist, or corrupt’ (citation). As a consequence of the popular culture Bondi-Beach became a trendy location welcoming new cafés, restaurants, shops, hotels and developed into a commercial area increasing the gentrification of the area. The economical growth of the area is slowly starting to create issues such as environmental problems, climate change’s link to disasters critics say local ‘authorities are ignoring rising sea levels that threaten million of dollars’ worth of planned waterfront works’. David Shoebridge (NSW Greens MP) also warned the council, according to their own research ‘Bondi-Beach is set to recede dramatically -by about 20 metres in 2050 and 45 metres in 2100’. The area is slowly starting to loose its heritage and culture, Green LMP and planning Spoke persons said «’Bondi Beach was included in the National Heritage List in 2008, and it seems within50 years this date it may be lost entirely’

Industrialisation is seen as a major threat to the Great Barrier Reef because it would have an impact on water quality and causes the destruction of habitats. this seems ideal, however, he planned to proceed with the construction of the biggest coal port which would result in the dredging of 3 million cubic metres of seabed. (White, 2013) This showed that theoretically the sustainability plan would cover the major threats but in practice it is not as effective due to projects initiated by the government as they often have underlying motives.

Does the impact of anthropogenic processes, such as dredging, and the environmental degradation it has caused in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park outweigh the exigency for shipping channels?

Culburra beach is one of the only beaches that have not undergone any human reforming and remains in its natural state. Culburra Beach does not have any man-made sea walls, boulders or human reforms. It does however have a natural sea wall consisting of sand dunes and natural vegetation, that separates the sea from the first line of houses. In order to ensure that Culburra beach continues to flourish, all humans have to do is ensure they do not pollute the beach and waters and build houses too close to the natural beach. Culburra Beach has been able to continually achieve a natural cycle as the waves bring sand into beach and then take the sand back out into the ocean. This forms a natural process and recurring cycle, allowing the beach to function

Dr.Pikley mentions, beach Nourishment is only a temporary fix and actually speeds up erosion. They set the beach higher and this causes the break point for the wave to break sooner then it would, which as an effect slams in to the newly nourished beach harder then it would with a gradual slope or natural slope. My third perspective, Beach nourishment does more damage then it prevents, it merely exists to protect the homes of the wealthy, while damaging the habitats of many beach dwelling

The mass tourism the Great Barrier Reef sees also brings in five to six billion Australian dollars per year. Luckily the Great Barrier Reef remains one of the world’s healthiest and best-protected marine areas. With such a wide array of uses for the Great Barrier Reef, from recreational to commercial, the Queensland government manages the marine park with the Zoning Plan. This plan places regulations on where each activity can occur and how much. The changing zones ensure that certain aspects of the ecosystem are not overly disturbed so that they can remain healthy. The Reef Trust and Reef Water Quality Protection Plan provide a framework for farmers and land managers to better prevent too much freshwater or pollutant runoff. All these protective measures are documented in the yearly GBR Outlook Report that helps authorities better manage the Reef in each specific

As discussed before, humans play a, sometimes, dangerous role in the well-being of the coral reef. Since the coral reef, specifically the Great Barrier Reef, has become such a major tourist destination, it has lead to the issues of pollution, stealing of species, and the use of boats and other forms of water transportation that damage the coral reef

The protection of the Great Barrier Reef is a major priority for the communities and government of Australia. However, international organisations such as UNESCO and WWF are working together with Australia to protect and build the resilience of the Great Barrier

In providing an appropriate management programmes, data and traditional knowledge from Torres Strait Islander and the researchers are needed. Participation of indigenous people in providing research data generated several benefits. These advantages are creating ‘a sense of control in future management decisions’, proving an appropriate self-regulatory program, enhancing knowledge about the importance of sea management and increasing the quality of life by creating a new innovation for sea management. In addition, it resulted in benefits for government and researchers in maximising the management actions, improving accessibility toward particular data and logistic support (which might be difficult to gain without assessment from local communities through verbal information) (Jones et al.,

The Village of Seawolf is currently under contemplation of undertaking a Stormwater Remediation Project, which will reduce storm water runoff into University Bay. As a result of the flow of this storm water runoff from the village roads and into University Bay, the local bathing beach and bed of hard clams have undergone closure for an undetermined period of time. The Village of Seawolf will vote on whether or not to undertake this Stormwater Remediation Project based on the cost, as well as if the project will be beneficial or not.

Question 1:- What do you learn about the beach article about the beach to city programme run by the RNLI?

 analysing the risks to determine the level of risk, which is defined as the