Why are the Bribie Island sand dunes being destroyed?

Question

According to several reports in various media, the local council is "lowering' the sand dunes so that property owners can get a better view of the sea!

http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/may/08/bribie-dune-destruction-disgrace/

Don't they realise that the dunes are the only things protecting them from sea level rises and storm surges?

Also endangered loggerhead turtle nesting sites have been disturbed.

Answer 1

Your question was the first I'd heard about this environmental vandalism. It's hard to believe that the council would be involved in interfering with the sand dunes for commercial interests and that the EPA would sign off on it - smells fishy to me.

The dunes never were very high at any time and the whole island is only 2m above sea level so doing anything to lower the dunes is asking for trouble next time a cyclone comes this far south.

If the pub (one of the property owners in question) looks like being washed away at some time in the future, what's the bet that the state government is called upon to chip in with our tax money to save it?

The very least we can all do is boycott the Blue Pacific pub and any other business involved in the vandalism.