DELWP takes off to monitor duck hunters and sand dunes

THE Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is taking to the skies, launching drones to keep an eye on duck hunters as well as sand movements at Marengo beach.

This is the first year DELWP has used drones to survey wetlands to monitor the behaviour of hunters and protestors during the 2018 duck hunting season – which began on March 17 – including at wetlands that are closed.

DELWP operations manager Glenn Sharp said using drones was a great way for staff to efficiently survey large masses of land.

“It will mean we can put staff where they are needed and respond quickly to illegal activities.

“This is a trial to see if this type of surveillance provides increased efficiencies at large scale events such as duck hunting opening weekend and other recreational activities on public land.

“The drone has the capability to specifically identify people on wetlands from great distances and is unlikely to be seen or heard during flight.

“It uses cameras and infra-red technology relayed live for immediate on-ground response.”

At Marengo, DELWP launched the drone on Friday ahead of sand renourishment works at the beach in coming months.

The monitoring will survey sand movements that have taken place over summer, and identify new sand harvesting sites.

This follows DELWP replenishing sand levels at the beach mid-last year, depositing 16,000 cubic metres of sand to protect infrastructure behind the foreshore.

DELWP senior environmental planner Frances Northeast said sand slopes at a beach could change substantially after sand renourishment, and these adjust to a more natural slope over time.

“Data collected during this monitoring, combined with advice by coastal engineers, will assist us in designing the coming sand renourishment project at Marengo Beach.”

She said last year’s sand renourishment had the desired effect, as it prevented further erosion at Marengo Beach and protected several important local assets, including the foundations of the Great Ocean Road, the Great Ocean Walk path, water and sewerage infrastructure and public car parking.

“Despite the success, additional sand is needed to build up resilience to erosion at this location.”

Ms Northeast said data collected during the drone flights would be made available to the community at a series of coastal monitoring workshops between Portarlington and Apollo Bay in May.