Pindimar has beautiful scenery and is a lovely place to live with its waterside residences and nature surroundings, but over the last few years there has been a loss to the fragile environment with its deterioration of sea grass.

Don Payne, a local of the Pindimar area, has been researching the problem and has taken photos over time to see the loss and now the gain.

Recently the sea grass has made a comeback and is slowly growing back which means that the nutrients are returning to the water and the system is healthier.

Don Payne commented, “The whole system seems happier.”

“You can see the difference between South Pindimar and North Pindimar because the sea grass is growing more vibrantly at South Pindimar and this is giving more nutrients to the water.”

Gordon Grainger contacted Myall Coast News and explained, “From a scientific viewpoint, sea grass is a vital element in the health of our waterways and is a habitat for numerous marine species.”

“The foreshore along Pindimar was formerly an extensive area of sea grasses and held a number of oyster leases,” he said.

Over the last decade, sand inundation swallowed the grass and oyster leases and what was a muddy waterfront became a white sandy beach.

Don Payne passed on information from an oyster farmer about the three currents that run through the bay and it is these channels that flush the water through.

“The oyster population and the marine life depend on the weed.”

Mr Payne said, “The sea grass is needed for the system of the waterways to function properly.”

By Rachel REITSMA