Not good enough: Council steps in to fix West Beach sand crisis
CHARLES Sturt Council has enlisted a coastal ecology expert to help fix the ongoing sand crisis at West Beach, saying the State Government’s effort is “not good enough”.
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THE State Government’s effort to fix the ongoing sand crisis at West Beach is “not good enough”, says Charles Sturt Council, which has stepped in to find a solution.
The council has commissioned Dr Ian Dyson, a leading expert in coastal ecology, to prepare a report about installing a series of groynes to prevent sand erosion.
His report will then be handed to the State Government, which has jurisdiction over the sand at West Beach.
Councillor Jassmine Wood told last week’s meeting that it was an “absolute travesty” that the issue has been allowed to drag on and it was “high time that something real and effective was done about it”.
“After many years of frustration, it really is time to let the State Government know that what they have been doing for years ... is simply not good enough,” she said.
“I believe that we owe it to our residents and visitors to do all that we can to make sure there is an actual beach at West Beach for generations to come.
“If that means we have to go out and get the solution ourselves and stick it in the State Government’s hand, then so be it.”
Cr Wood said she was “really excited” to work with Dr Dyson in finding a solution to the “tricky” sand problem which had kept her “awake at night”.
Dr Dyson’s solution for West Beach is similar to a groynes field being installed at Brighton Beach.
The council has asked Dr Dyson to investigate and cost the idea and include estimates of how much sand could be captured onshore four, eight and 12 years after installation.
Dr Dyson said currently sand movement was “severely obstructed” by the breakwaters at the Patawolonga and the Adelaide Shores boat ramp.
This results in beaches that are “down drift” to be “starved of sand”.
“The groyne field will not only inhibit natural sand movement but, by holding replenished sand in place longer, it has the potential to build up sand on the beach that will in turn provide a natural buffer from wave attack on the coastal dunes at West Beach,” Dr Dyson said.
Dr Dyson said a groyne field construction would dramatically reduce the amount of sand carting needed at West Beach, which currently needs to be done on a monthly basis.
Last year, the State Government spent $750,000 in a single month trucking 30,000 cubic metres of sand from Semaphore to West Beach following severe storms in late 2016, which also destroyed the rock wall.
“By holding replenished sand in place longer and by building up the vertical profile (of the beach), the need for sand carting will decrease with time,” Dr Dyson said.
A similar groyne field – consisting of nine groynes made up of about 50 geotextile bags per groyne – is currently being installed at Brighton Beach at a final cost of $410,000.
A Holdfast Bay Council spokesman said, with two groynes in place, there had been a noticeable improvement.
Colton MP Matt Cowdrey said improving the coastline was one of his “key focus areas”.
“As someone who is passionate about my community and the coast, I am working with the Minister for Environment and Water to do everything possible to address needs along our coastline, including at West Beach,” Mr Cowdrey said.
“I welcome any suggestions or funding from the council toward addressing the long-standing issues at West Beach.”
Western Adelaide Coastal Residents Association president Paul Laris backed the council’s decision and said the sooner they started working with Dr Dyson the better.
“It would be great to see some action before the spring gales threaten even more of the remaining dunes,” Mr Laris said.
