Byron Bay’s Main Beach and Clarkes Beach have been further impacted by severe erosion

Large swells have led to even more erosion on these much loved and well known beaches.

Byron Bay’s coast is continuing to be beleaguered by serious beach erosion.

Byron Shire Council’s director of infrastructure services Phil Holloway said larger swells had led to further erosion of the dunes on Clarkes Beach and Main Beach.

This has led to more trees collapsing onto the beach since the weather event that impacted the stretch of coast in late 2020.

The council has brought heavy machinery into the area to push the trees to the foot of the dunes to stabilise the dunes and trap sand.

“As regular beachgoers will attest to, there has been an incredible loss of sand on one of Australia’s signature beaches and it is really sad to see the incredible impact this has had on vegetation and beach amenity,” Mr Holloway said.

“History tells us that the sand will eventually return but the dunes and vegetation may require assistance to rebuild and re-establish.

“Returning the beach to what it was before this erosion event may take many years, primarily depending on how soon the sand moves back to the location.

People watch the long stretch of coastal areas seen disappeared due to erosion along the beach side, December 14, 2020 in Byron Bay, Australia. Byron Bay's beaches face further erosion as wild weather and hazardous swells lash the northern NSW coastlines. (Photo by Regi Varghese/Getty Images)

“We understand for many in the community it is difficult to see the beach in the terrible state it is, however this is part and parcel of living in a dynamic coastal environment.”

He said sand had built up at The Pass and winter conditions would typically bring a most southerly ocean swell.

This may push the sand onto the impacted beaches.

The council is expected to keep managing public safety issued until the sand is replenished.

“We are monitoring this situation every day and given that this erosion phase has been a very long one, likely more than three years, we are hoping the sand will start to move onto the beaches very soon,” Mr Holloway said.

He said the council would consider a range of measures such as beach scraping, sand trapping, restoring fencing and dune revegetation when the sand has been replenished.

“In the meantime we urge people to please stay off the sand dunes completely, away from the bottom of steep sand escarpments and to only use beach access points that are open,” Mr Holloway said.

The council has been working on a coastal management program.