Living in our family home in Lawson Street I can only but agree with Jan Hackett’s concern regarding the rate of sand loss and dune erosion at Main Beach, Byron Bay.
Jan (and other concerned residents) may not be aware that the comprehensive research undertaken by Blue Coast Consulting Engineers on behalf of Byron Shire Council (BSC) regarding the Main Beach Shoreline Project determined that the options being considered by Council that include the removal of those groynes (as suggested by Jan) would ‘result in a net reduction in beach volume (i.e. shoreline recession) at Main Beach…’. The report predicts that there would be a ‘shoreline change’ of minus five metres to minus 12 metres at Main Beach.
Such an outcome would appear to achieve the opposite of Jan’s desire to maintain and protect our town’s jewel, i.e. Main Beach. It would also be reckless in the extreme (and probably make it liable for the damages) for such a plan to be approved by Council.
In fairness, Jan mentions that there are ‘many options available for designing hybrid sea walls that do not kill off the beach before it’. I am unaware of such options but I strongly suggest that Council ensure they are credible and undertaken before making decisions that would result in the very thing that Jan (and I) wish to avoid.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
