FAQs

Proposed Coastal Adaptation Works at Dunsborough include:

• Maintenance of the existing revetments (retaining rock): Vincent Street and Bayview Crescent 
• Dune Resilience Works:
  • Build a wider, stabilised dune at Vincent Street to act as a natural buffer against erosion.
• Beach Nourishment:
  • Add sand to widen the beach at Vincent Street, improving beach amenity
• Granite Outcrops
  • Install granite outcrops to moderately increase sand trapping and protect the beach. 

Over the past 15 years the Dunsborough foreshore has experienced erosion - approximately 3,500m³ per year of sand has been lost from the nearshore area since 2009.  Mature peppermint trees and beach access structures have been weakened, and a damaged revetment (the large retaining rocks placed along the shoreline to protect the shoreline from erosion) has been exposed at the northern end of the beach. Continued exposure has significantly narrowed the beach at high tide. 

The Bayview Crescent foreshore is relatively stable, however there are only narrow buffers to the road and services, and the revetment / retaining rocks structure is in poor condition.  

The City of Busselton undertook a resident survey in June 2020 as a part of the Busselton Coastal Management Program (2021 -2031). The “management and protection of our coastline from erosion” was identified as the most important issue by City of Busselton residents.

Coastal erosion is a natural process. However, if the area is left unmanaged, degradation of the existing structures and erosion will continue, impacting how we can enjoy the beach, weakening mature Peppermint trees and putting the popular coastal dual use path at risk.  

The City of Busselton undertook a resident survey in June 2020 as a part of the Busselton Coastal Management Program (2021 -2031). The “management and protection of our coastline from erosion” was identified as the most important issue by City of Busselton residents.

Natural granite outcrops along the Old Dunsborough coastline to the north provide an example of the proposed features of this option. They would seek to be natural looking features rather than engineered headlands, of similar scale and layout to smaller outcrops to the north of the site. 

Sourcing of Gneiss (weathered brownish colour granite boulders) to match the colour and appearance of the existing outcrops at Point Daking 500m to the north of the Leeuwin Naturalise ridge is proposed. 

They will be placed in three locations about 100m apart along the Vincent Street foreshore and sit within existing formations to ensure they fit harmoniously with the landscape.

These outcrops will provide a modest increase in sand trapping capacity, providing subtle beach protection and undulation.

The City of Busselton is seeking community feedback on two items for the proposed coastal adaption works;

• The aesthetics of the revetments (rock structures that retain the shoreline)
• If the community would prefer to have the granite outcrops, or not.

The City of Busselton received funding through the Federal Coastal and Estuarine risk Mitigation Program (CERMP) to help manage erosion along the Dunsborough foreshore at Vincent Street.

When the submission time is up, we’ll collate all the feedback and use that data to select which rock type is used for the seawall refurbishment.

We'll also review the feedback regarding the rocky outcrop installations and progress the project according to the preference outlined by our community. 

Everyone who has taken part will be advised of the decisions, and we’ll also share the information via our traditional and social media platforms.

At this stage we can't confirm a timeline due to various factors including potential weather implications and contractor availability. However, we'll advise the community as soon as we have clearer visibility of our timelines.