Geography Cronulla

Outline the geographical processes relevant to the management of the Cronulla, Wanda and Kurnell area. The Cronulla, Kurnell and Wanda region sites are ecologically and culturally significant. The Cronulla, Wanda and Kurnell areas are filled with beautiful beaches, magnificent headlands and various other wonderful features, being well over 15000 years old this region showcases some magnificent attractions. These regions however are now faced with issues regarding enviromental degradation and habitat endangerment.

There are many issues however some of the more significant problems are erosion, longshore drift and high rise development. There are three key factors in the geographical processes that affect the coastal enviroments. There are erosion, deposition and transportation. The beaches are affected bytransportation or more commonly known as longshore drift (Longshore drift is the movement of sediments, usually sand, along a coast parallel to the shoreline) The use of a tomobolo could help with trapping the sand to minimize the damage of longshore drift to beaches.

Coastal areas usually have sand dunes on beaches to act as a source of sand when external forces move the sand such as storms, high tides, etc and also act as a barrier from winds that come from the sea. Sand dunes have vegetation such as spinifex which inhabit the dunes and help to hold the sand together and preventing heavy erosion. The process of nature is hard on the sand dunes itself, but because of human interference the speed and power of erosion of the sand dunes and beaches within the region have caused mass destruction.

Evaluate the responses of individuals groups and governments to coastal management of the Cronulla/Wanda/Kurnell environment. The Cronulla,Wanda and Kurnell areas have started to see some positive improvements to their enviroments, this is due to individuals and groups who have done their best to aid the coastal enviroment and its management. There are many programs and events that have helped in the coastal management such as beach nourishment programs to help repair beaches from storms and sandloss, Harbour watch programs for safer swimming and individuals and groups cleaning litter and rubbish in there attempts of a healthier nvrioment. Erosion is unfortuanately present at Cronulla beach, the local government have tried to tackle this problem with solution such as dune stabilization and rip rap walls. Rip rap walls are when larged rocks are piled in a certain angle to catch drifting sand and protect the beaches from harsher waves and to protect buildings from high tides. There are also many programs which help to ensure the stabilization of dunes, these include the planting of new vegetation to combat erosion, fencing and designated walkways to prevent human interference. The main reason of dune stabilization is to slow down the speed of erosion.

In 1974 the Cronulla beaches were at an all time low and was in a critical state, from this the University of New South Wales designed a new wall, a wall which is different from the conventional walls used to prevent erosion and transportation with these hexagonal concrete blocks weigh well over a tonne each to be used as a line of defence agiasnt the waves and erosion. These concrete walls over a period of time have increased the size of the beach. Enviromental organisations have tried there best to limit the amount of man made deveoplment on coastal lads and many schools participating in annual events to protect and save the sand dunes.

The government has also responded to this problem with various methods and responses. However huge programs will be very time consuming and require a lot of funding. Other government groups however take it upon themselves to manage the beaches and nearby enviroments. Many citizens and civilians believe it is also their responsibility to look after the enviroment and go out of there way to persuade the government to finding ways to sustain and reviltalise the dying enviroment.