Southshore Under Scrutiny

Work is to be done to make Brighton's Southshore spit a better place for people and birds - but first the public is being asked for its views.

A sandy finger that juts into Avon- Heathcote Estuary (Ihutai), the spit is a valuable wildlife habitat and popular with walkers.

A call came from the community for a plan of development work to manage the spit in the future under set guidelines. Workshops were held with local residents to get their ideas and a working party was set up, comprising Southshore and South Brighton residents, along with Council Coast Care staff and Burwood-Pegasus Community Board members.

A draft development plan is now complete and public comments are being sought. Copies of the plan are available from the Parks Units or can be seen at service centres and some libraries.

Coast Care co-ordinator Kay Holder says it is important that management of the spit recognises its protective function and any development does not affect instability any more. The draft plan provides for the enhancement of an existing wetland and a path as an alternative to a beach walk at high tide. This will be placed behind the front dunes, out of sight of nesting birds.

The spit edge is home to many wading birds, which feed in the estuary at low tide, and especially the thousands of godwit, which descend on the spit in summer. They roost on the spit edge and build up fat reserves for their long trip back to Siberia in autumn. The plan also provides for a toilet, emergency access, native tree planting and control of weeds such as gorse, broom, boneseed and blackberry.

"We hope the development plan will encourage sand to accumulate at the edges, and help considerably in looking after what we have here," says Kay.