Erosion at Palmers Island Village has been occurring over a long period and is the natural outcome of river migration on the valley floodplain. Since the 1940's the extent of erosion has been up to 35 m in places. Rock armouring of the village foreshore has reduced the rate of erosion. However, it has also redirected the force of the river causing the bed to deepen and the banks to become steeper, thus increasing the potential for slip failures of the bank. At present the bank is fairly stable under small flows and normal tidal action, however in times of flood when high velocities act against the outside of the bend, parts of the bank could collapse endangering lives and property. Erosion of this section of the Clarence River will continue until the river achieves a more stable configuration.