We are restoring the sand dunes between Tracks 5 and 8 via Don Lucas Reserve and relocating excess sand to North Cronulla and Cronulla Beach.

Works timeline

Project start:  NOVEMBER 2025

Expected completion:  JULY 2026

Project background

Dunes are an important environmental feature providing:

  • protection from storm and winds
  • wildlife habitat
  • an attractive and engaging natural landscape.

Across the east coast recent storm events have led to vegetation loss, erosion and movement of sand on to nearby infrastructure like footpaths, showers and buildings.

These maintenance works will restore and stabilise the dunes, to:

  • improve the ecological condition of the beach
  • enhance resilience to storms
  • provide safe access for beach users and emergency services
  • safeguard nearby assets from sand erosion and encroachment
  • protect our coastline for generations to come.

Development of the Dune Maintenance Plan

Council is committed to protecting and managing the costal environment and actively monitors and manages costal erosion along the Bate Bay Coastline, as outlined in our Bate Bay Costal Management Program 2022-2023. (CMP). The Dune Maintenance Plan is part of the CMP guiding both day-to-day operations and large-scale restoration efforts.

The updated Dune Maintenance Plan 2025 has been developed by industry experts—including coastal engineers, ecologists, and landscape architects—and provides tailored, site-specific solutions for each section of the beach. Historical and meteorological data, along with detailed site assessments, were used to track changes and inform recommendations.

The plan reflects best-practice costal management approaches for the challenges faced across the east coast and has all necessary environmental approvals.

Scope

Work is starting between tracks 5 and 8 via Don Lucas Reserve.

Stage 1: Initial bulk reprofiling of sand dunes

  • dunes reshaped using machinery to restore their naturally undulating form
  • improved access ways
  • excess sand relocated to Cronulla Beach and North Cronulla Beach to improve access ways
  • installed fencing.

Stage 2: Stabilising sand dunes:

  • final reprofiling
  • installed coir matting, protective fencing and erosion control
  • 40,000 local native plants planted
  • selected plant species to match existing vegetation communities Coastal Foredune Wattlescrub and Beach Spinifex Grassland.

Project schedule

  • Stage 1: Starting from November 2025 and be completed by the end of December 2025.
  • Stage 2: Reprofiling and sand replenishment will commence from 14 May 2026 and run to the end of June. Revegetation is expected to commence in early July.

Ongoing and future maintenance outside of this area will progress at other sites along the Bate Bay costal area at a later date, to be advised.

Impacts during works

Access tracks and sections of the beach may be temporarily unavailable. Please follow all traffic control guidance and stay out of exclusion zones.

Maintenance scenarios

View our Dune Maintenance Plan below:

Frequently Asked Questions

No. You can still visit and enjoy Bate Bay Beaches. At times there may be partial access restrictions to sections of the beach and/or tracks. Please look out for and follow any directions provided at the beach.

Maintenance work has been planned to avoid works occurring during the peak summer beach season.

Stage one will improve access to the beach, showers, footpaths, and nearby facilities. These works will be completed before the summer peak.

Stage two will focus on vegetation. Planting will happen after the heat of summer to give plants the best chance to grow and survive.

You can help protect our dunes by sticking to designated paths and staying out of exclusion zones and vegetation sensitive areas.

This initiative is supported by a grant from the NSW Government.