Floreat Main Beach Restoration (2024–2025)
The Floreat Main Beach dunes were subject to significant erosion following Cyclone Alby in 1978. Rubble from the original Surf Life Saving Club building, damaged during the cyclone, remained visible in the eroded dunes as recently as 2023.
Project Overview (2024–2025)
During 2024 and 2025, Cambridge Coastcare undertook a project to stabilise the steep dunes along the Floreat coastline, with the dual aims of mitigating erosion and increasing biodiversity.
Cambridge Coastcare successfully secured two WA Government (Coastwest) grants totalling approximately $70,000 across the two years.
In addition to WA Government funding, the Town contributed $66,000 over the same period. These funds supported:
• A contractor to reshape the dunes prior to volunteer works
• Watering of seedlings to ensure their survival through the first hot summer months
These actions align with recommendations in the WA Government Assessment of Coastal Erosion Hotspots Report (2019) and the Town of Cambridge CHRMAP (2022), both of which recognise vegetated dunes as a cost-effective measure for mitigating coastal erosion and protecting infrastructure.
In the images below, volunteers planting during winter (wet) months) June to July. Each planting session was preceded by training of volunteers (photo credit: Erin Veiga Malta).
Below planting is completed – showing 2024 seedlings thriving and 2025 seedlings in protective covers.
Below, is at Floreat main beach, steep dunes with embedded building rubble. Visible is rubble from the former Floreat SLSC (demolished in 1978) and remained in the dune face (17 March 2023).
Below, also on Floreat main beach, the dunes are reshaped (funded by Town of Cambridge). Sand was taken from the adjacent beach (from build up during summer sand accretion) to cover the rubble and reshape the dune (Photo credit: Keith Meadows). Experienced Volunteers matted the dunes with coir mesh.
Coastwest Grant Outcomes
Across the two years, the Coastwest grants fully funded:
• 92 rolls of coir matting (2m wide × 25m long), staked across 4,040 square metres of dunes
• 7,786 seedlings with protective covers
• Temporary bunting fencing to discourage pedestrian access over establishing seedlings
Volunteer contributions to this site totalled 1,406 hours. (Additional hours were contributed to other sites along the City Beach and Floreat coastline for weeding and infill planting.)
The 1,406 hours equate to approximately $60,830 in pro bono value. By fully funding seedlings and materials, the Coastwest grants enabled the Town to allocate more of its environmental budget toward weekly watering of the site from November.
Story supplied by author: Meg Anklesaria (Committee member – Cambridge Coastcare)
Photos supplied by Meg Anklesaria.
For more information contact: www.cambridgecoastcare.com.au