Protecting the Dunes at Parsons Beach: Community-led action

Check out how Grassroots Grants is being used to protect fragile dune systems and coastal habitats - through community‑led stewardship of well‑used, much‑loved, Parson's Beach.  A Grassroots Grants case study.

On the wild western edge of Yorke Peninsula, the sand dunes at Parsons Beach are more than just scenery – they are living systems that protect the coastline, provide habitat for wildlife and shape how people experience this much‑loved place.

With support from the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board's Grassroots Grants Program, the Parsons Beach Community Association (PBCA) is leading a coordinated effort to restore and protect the fragile dune systems stretching from Parsons Beach to Watsons Beach.

Like many coastal areas, Parsons Beach has experienced increasing visitor numbers in recent years. While people are drawn to its open spaces and natural beauty, vehicle and pedestrian traffic has taken a toll on the dunes.

Damage includes:

• Erosion and “blowouts” in foredunes
• Loss of native vegetation
• Invasion by environmental weeds such as sea spurge (Euphorbia paralias)
• Increased sand drift into low‑lying areas

Without intervention, these impacts threaten both biodiversity and long‑term beach access.

PBCA’s project takes a landscape‑scale, multi‑tenure approach, working across council land, crown land and private property.

The project includes four key components:

1. Restoring the entrance to Parsons Beach through weed removal, revegetation, sand reshaping and landscaping
2. Installing educational signage to guide visitor behaviour and protect sensitive areas
3. Weed control and revegetation along dune systems, targeting erosion‑prone sections
4. Dune stabilisation at Watsons Beach, using coir logs, sand drift fencing and native plantings to rebuild foredunes

Together, these actions slow erosion, trap sand and encourage natural regeneration.

More than 300 native tube‑stock plants will be planted in degraded areas, helping stabilise dunes and provide habitat for coastal birds.

By removing invasive weeds and replacing them with locally appropriate native species, the project restores the structure and function of the dune system – allowing it to respond more effectively to wind, storms and changing climate conditions.

One of the project’s strengths is its focus on visitor education.

Clear, well‑placed signage helps:

• Reduce off‑track driving and foot traffic
• Explain why dunes matter
• Encourage respect for revegetation areas
• Reduce antisocial behaviour

By making conservation visible, PBCA is changing behaviour – not just repairing damage.

Powered by volunteers and partnerships

This project is truly community‑led.

More than 30 PBCA members have committed time to working bees, including:

• Weed removal
• Planting native vegetation
• Installing erosion matting and fencing
• Monitoring visitor impacts

PBCA is working closely with Yorke Peninsula Council, nearby landholders, Department for Environment and Water staff and Landscape Board officers – pooling expertise, resources and local knowledge.

With just under $10,000 in Grassroots Grants funding, leveraged by more than $12,000 in in‑kind contributions, the project delivers real, visible outcomes along kilometres of coastline.

Benefits include:

✅ Reduced sand drift and erosion

✅ Improved habitat for native fauna

✅ Healthier, more resilient dune systems

✅ A better visitor experience

✅ A stronger, more connected local community.

Looking after what makes the place special

Parsons Beach is valued because it feels open, natural and remote – but those qualities depend on careful stewardship.

Through hands‑on action, clear communication and community pride, PBCA is ensuring that future visitors can enjoy the beach without damaging what makes it special.

It’s coastal conservation at its best: local people, protecting their place.

Grassroots Grants  are delivered by the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board and are a great example of South Australia’s landscape levy at work, supporting local knowledge and community‑led action empowering communities to care for their environment.

Last year, the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board's Grassroots Grants (2025-2026) awarded $194,654 through the landscape levy to support volunteers, schools, community groups, First Nations, councils and landholder groups sustainably manage landscapes through on-ground work and education. 

Stay tuned in early 2027 for the opening of the next round.