Adelaide beaches suffering ‘large-scale degradation’ according to geologist Ian Dyson

A damning report has warned Adelaide’s famous beaches could be destroyed unless drastic action — including an $8 million West Beach project — is taken to save them.

• Ian Dyson on deck as council steps in over West Beach erosion
• Coastal erosion threatens Adelaide’s seaside
• Sand carting at West Beach to cost $1 million
• Sand carting is money down the drain

Adelaide’s popular beaches could be completely washed away unless drastic action is taken to reverse their erosion, respected geologist Ian Dyson has warned.

According to a recent report by Dr Dyson, which has been presented to Charles Sturt Council, a groyne field project worth up to $8 million is required at West Beach to combat increasingly damaging sand erosion.

He lashed the current system of sand carting and pumping to replenish the beach as a failure “despite its huge cost” — and said it was not an “economically viable solution” long term.

The “major aim” of the project would be to design a groyne field which would hold sand in place for longer so it could contribute to the restoration of the beach.

He proposed a principal investigator be hired for a four-month period at a cost of $40,000 to oversee the project.

Glenelg North beach, which has suffered erosion. Photo: AAP/Brenton Edwards

Charles Sturt Council has agreed to stump up $25,000.

Dr Dyson wrote in his report that every beach between Seacliff and Henley Beach — except Glenelg — had suffered “large-scale degradation”.

“If no affirmative action is taken now, West Beach will go the way of Hallett Cove — what was once a sandy beach is now a rocky coastline,” Dr Dyson wrote.

“A future scenario could see pocket beaches at Glenelg, Henley and Semaphore, separated by long expanses of wet beach fronting bluestone rip-rap with stony areas below.

“This will impact on property values, tourism and recreation, in particular affecting the activity of surf lifesaving clubs while also requiring extensive and costly asset creation and management.”

Western Adelaide Coastal Residents Association president Paul Laris said a plan for a groyne field needed to be developed “ASAP”.

Coastal geologist Dr Ian Dyson at West Beach. Photo: AAP/Brenton Edwards

“What we’ve got is an unsustainable situation and, unless something is done, we will see the gradual demolition of our long coastal beach,” Mr Laris said. “It would be really good to see something in place over this winter before large storms hit.”

Mr Laris has written to Liberal MP for Colton Matt Cowdrey to request he provide funding for the project.

The report came after a number of recent incidents at West Beach due to sand erosion, including a young girl impaling her foot on a steel rod during a surf lifesaving “little nippers” competition.

More than 50 other pieces of metal were uncovered at the beach by Charles Sturt and the West Beach Surf Lifesaving Club.

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