Yorke Peninsula Council is reminding visitors and locals to stick to designated paths to help protect coastal sand dunes during Easter and the school holidays.

These dunes also contain sites of significance to the Narungga Aboriginal community, they contain significant Aboriginal heritage sites which are protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988.

Sand dunes are fragile and walking or driving through them can damage plants that keep sand in place, leading to erosion, dune blowouts and accelerated sand movement.

“Keep to the trails and stay clear of the sand dunes as this will help preserve these special places for future generations,” Yorke Peninsula Council Mayor Darren Braund said.

“Damage to the dunes creates a cycle and once sand is exposed it drifts from wind movement and causes more vegetation loss.”

Sand dunes act as an important barrier to damaging forces of waves and tides, and are formed when beach sand is blown inland, settles, and is later stabilised by plants.

The location and shape of the dunes depends on local source of beach sand, wind to transport sand particles on to higher ground and quick-growing vegetation to hold the sand particles.

Remove just one of these factors and there will be no sand dunes along the coastline.

Things to remember to protect the environment

• Stick to designated paths and don’t venture onto the sand dunes
• Put your rubbish in the bin or take it home with you if bins are full
• Leave it be – changing or disrupting the natural environment can destroy important habitats