Cassowary Coast residents are being urged to leave foreshore vegetation alone in the wake of Cyclone Yasi.

MEDIA RELEASE issued by Cassowary Coast Regional Council

February 22, 2011

Mayor Bill Shannon said every tree that could be saved would be saved, and asked residents not to take it upon themselves to trim vegetation around creeks and rivers.

He said the category-five storm had caused substantial damage to the region’s beaches and foreshore reserves, felling trees and drastically eroding the coastline. Foreshores had eroded up to 15 metres in some places.

Cr Shannon said the foreshore was being assessed by qualified staff and aborists, with public safety a priority. Specialised contractors were working with the council’s parks and natural environment staff on restoration works.

“Any tree that can be saved will be saved, including our coconut trees,’’ he said.

“We are taking any measure we can to protect what trees are still standing. In the case of Cardwell and its trademark calophyllum and cashew trees, sand has been pushed up over the exposed roots as one means of protecting their root systems.

“Sand nourishment works are under way on beaches and as sand returns to the beaches it can be pushed up to the foreshores. Works have started at Wongaling Beach, where sand is being moved back up the beach onto the base of vegetation.

“We are hoping 80 to 90 per cent of the trees that still have roots in the ground will survive.’’

Cr Shannon said State Government coastal experts would be examining some of the immediate coastal impacts and would start to assess long-term shoreline processes that might occur.

A Cassowary Coast Regional Council parks spokesman said local knowledge of calophyllums was that they were remarkably resilient trees, as was evidenced in places like Garners Beach at Mission Beach and Etty Bay near Innisfail over the years.

“Calophyllums were disturbed in a similar fashion during Cyclone Winifred in 1986 but they have recovered over the past 25 years to become large shade trees which are still upright on those beaches,’’ the spokesman said.

Cr Shannon said beach accesses had been cleaned up in the Cassowary Coast. But he said there had unfortunately already been incidents of illegal clearing on the foreshore reserves.

He said the council would pursue any incidents of illegal clearing.

“We urge people to work with us not against us…we will be working with volunteers on revegetation programs as things progress and will be setting up a register of volunteers a little further down the track,’’ he said.

Anyone with concerns about foreshore clearing can ring Council’s parks and natural environment department on 4030 2222.

For advice and assistance on cyclone-related matters, the public can contact the Disaster Coordination Centre on 1300 188 505.

Media contact: Julie Lightfoot on 4043 8833 or 0417 721 754