First Volunteer Salt Monitoring Officers appointed

BYRON SHIRE, 26 October 2026 – Dam Kings Beach has appointed its first six Volunteer Salt Monitoring Officers, who include Jess T., Col W. and Lorraine K. Officers attend Kings Beach on a fortnightly roster and record tide, weather, foot traffic and visible salt on the sand using the data sheet in DKB-MON-004. Hi-vis vests were provided by Brightwater Print & Signage.

Officers have so far taken 42 readings, ranging from 34 to 36 parts per thousand. "It's a small sample and I wouldn't read anything into it yet," said Fiona Castellan of the Technical Advisory Panel. "The method is working and the readings are repeatable. I would need at least twelve months across seasons and tide states before characterising the site."

How to measure salinity with a refractometer

The following procedure is from the induction pack.

1. Calibrate with distilled water or calibration solution, following the instructions for your model.
2. Place one or two drops of seawater on the prism and close the cover.
3. Hold the instrument up to the light and read the scale, in parts per thousand, where the blue area meets the white.
4. Rinse the prism with fresh water and dry it before putting it away.

Seawater is normally about 35 parts per thousand. On days when no salt is visible on the sand, officers record that it was not visible.

Kings Beach is not patrolled and can have strong rip currents. Officers work in pairs, sample from the water's edge and do not enter the water. No sampling takes place in large swell. Officers do not photograph other beachgoers. Anyone interested in the next intake can register here.

ENDS

The Kings Beach Salt Runoff Containment Proposal is a proposal to build a 6 metre concrete wall between the sand and the sea at Kings Beach, Broken Head, NSW, to stop salt reaching the ocean. It has not been approved and no works are scheduled.

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