Dear Doug,

Just how dire this whole situation is was brought into clear focus for me over the weekend.

I woke up on Saturday morning, and my one thought was to go and walk to the dunes. Call it a spiritual calling of sorts. I managed to see a friend who suggested I go to Birubi Point, which I did. We drove there by car, parked in the carpark and proceeded to walk to the dunes with my five-year-old son.

Unfortunately the number of trail bikers and four-wheel drivers that were rampaging over the dunes made the 'pilgrimage' to the dunes impossible. We got about half way there, with trail bikes making it known who owned the dunes. Every five minutes a new stampede of four wheel drives would emerge. At this point I gave up, deciding it would be too risky to continue for my young son, who was now getting scared. My heart sank, I could see something spitting sand over the dunes, could it be the sand mining? Anyway, we decided to go to the beach instead. And what did we find there? Basically a number of yobbos drinking beers and walking their violent dogs unleashed. At one point, this dog came racing past us in order to make acquaintance with another. They smooched for some time. The owner came up, called his dog, held him down, and, with one eye looking at me, he pulled a leash out of his pocket, put it around the dog's neck and then gave the dog a good wallop! His two beer drinking friends looked on, and then all walked on, the dog was dragged.

We left.

Poor dog.

Thankyou Doug and your colleagues for the work you've done in trying to save this magnificent natural treasure and create a national park. From what I can see God help the dunes, for I couldn't see any evidence that any humans were doing anything about it. From a tourist perspective, I reckon they should ban all vehicles on the dunes, and restore them from the damages of human interference. If humans wish to experience them, then let it be on foot, and in 'human' silence. Maybe we have to instill a certain sanctity into this environment, I just can't imagine the damage that already been allowed to proceed. Twenty more years of mining, trail biking and four wheel driving will certainly finish them off.

Vale the sacred dunes.

Perhaps we should write a requiem mass for the dunes?

Kindest Regards,
Gionni Di Gravio