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Best Practice Guideline 6 - Foreshore and Inter-tidal Access and Recreation
Introduction
This guideline aims to education recreational users and foreshore property owners about the importance of foreshore vegetation and habitats, which provide food and shelter to fish and other species, as well as the role of this vegetation in protecting foreshore banks from erosion. Guidance is given as to ways to minimize the impact on foreshore habitats by the use of formalized access ways, and avoiding trampling, removal or other damage to the important estuarine vegetation in Pittwater.
Pittwater’s foreshore and waterways are a spectacular natural resource. Understandably, visitors and resident of Pittwater wish to access the waterway and use the foreshore for leisure and recreation. But these areas are home to many important and sensitive natural environments. Riparian habitats including saltmarsh and mangroves live in the intertidal zone and help make Pittwater waterways healthy.
Intertidal areas are those parts of land that are covered by water during high tides and exposed during low tides. They can be bare such as mud flats, sand flats and rock flats. These areas provide shelter and food for a diverse community of organisms, which in turn provide food for fish and birds.
Important foreshore habitats such as mangroves and saltmarsh are very sensitive to human disturbance. This means that only certain locations along the Pittwater foreshore are suitable for people to access the waterway. Not every property that has land next to the foreshore of Pittwater can or should have direct access to the waterway. These properties should avoid informal access points and not create their own access point to the waterway. Legislation protects the Pittwater foreshore and fines may apply to illegal construction of access ways.
How you can minimise the impacts of foreshore and Inter-tidal access and recreation on the environment
- Always use designated formal access tracks, including pathways around the foreshore, steps and other formal features to enter the waterway.
- Do not use or make informal tracks through foreshore vegetation to access the waterway
- Avoid trampling upon plants and animals in foreshore areas
- Only use designated dog exercise areas to walk/run your dog and always clean up after it
- Always take your rubbish and other belongings with you or use bins provided after using foreshore reserves.
To access the full details of the Best Practice Guidelines click here
Legislation Relevant to bank stabilisation works on foreshores
- Water Management Act, 2000 – works within 40m of a watercourse, river or estuary
- Fisheries Management Act, 1994 – protects mangroves and saltmarsh
- Threatened Species Conservation Act – protects saltmarsh as an endangered ecological community
- Environmental Planning and Assessment ct, 1979 – applies to all development in NSW
Further Information
- Guidelines for controlled activities: Riparian corridors – DWE
- Primefact 12: Degradation of native riparian vegetation along NSW watercourses – DPI
- Removal and Degradation of Native Riparian vegetation – DPI
- Improving fish habitats – DPI
- Best Practice Guideline for Coastal Saltmarsh – DECCW
