The overcrowding effect is not permanent and is reduced by fires which are a natural product of the lightning storms that regularly pass over the area.

 

The presence of people and their property means that the natural fire regime here is heavily regulated.

 

While 60% of fires are deliberately or accidentally lit, these too are controlled and in response the NPWS has developed a fire management strategy.

 

On the dunes most plants are adapted to fire but if fires are too frequent some cannot reproduce and if left too long the dense shrub layer will reduce biodiversity.