$1 million to be spent to cart sand to combat West Beach erosion, but it’s not enough, residents say

THE State Government will cart a record amount of sand over two years to save the vulnerable West Beach but residents say that pales in comparison to what’s really needed.

• Record amount of sand to fill West Beach
• Stark warning for the future of Adelaide’s beaches
• Hundreds of giant sandbags to be installed to prevent sand drift

THE State Government will spend $1 million to cart a record amount of sand over two years to save the vulnerable West Beach.

A total of 100,000 cubic metres – enough to fill 40 Olympic swimming pools – will be moved from the Semaphore South breakwater from October 15 as part of the State Government’s $5.2 million New Life for Our Coastal Environment plan.

Coastal ecologist Ian Dyson at West Beach, looking north towards Henley Beach. Erosion from storm damage caused this winter is visible.

Sand dune erosion at West Beach. Photo taken Sunday, July 20, 2014 by Anne Wheaton (Western Adelaide Coastal Residents Association)

Environment Minister David Speirs said the project was a major priority for the government.

“We are very lucky in South Australia to have some amazing beaches and coastlines and it’s important that we protect these for future generations,” Mr Speirs said.

He said environmental consultants Danish Hydraulics Institute had completed a report outlining new ways to address erosion at West Beach.

“The report sets out new long-term options for managing erosion at West Beach and these will be considered by the State Government over the coming months,” he said.

“(It) makes it clear that even if recent management activities were to be maintained, dune erosion would continue around West Beach and Henley Beach South, and progressively move north.

Sand dune erosion at West Beach in 2014. Picture: Jim Douglas

“We will therefore be moving away from these activities.”

The State Government has also allocated $1 million to research and development to find the best ways to manage beach replenishment in the future.

Ideas include investigating new sand sources and tackling issues such as the impact sediment and pollutants from stormwater run-off have on oceans and marine life.

The planned beach carting has been dismissed by the Western Adelaide Coastal Residents Association as a Band-Aid fix that had no way of holding the sand on the beach.

“I wouldn’t get too excited about the proposal to cart in around 50,000 cubic metres of sand per year over the next two years … that is not much compared to the 271,600 cubic metres lost in 2015-2016,” association president Paul Laris said.

“The best news is the commitment to continuing research to develop a long-term strategy to prevent sand loss and take a whole system view of coastal management including sea grass restoration and limiting storm water and sediment pollution.”

Water right up against the rocks at West Beach in 2016 after stormy weather. Picture: Stephen Laffer

Councillor Jassmine Wood said it was “an absolute travesty” the issue had been allowed to drag on and slammed the State Government’s efforts as “not good enough”.

The council commissioned leading coastal ecology expert Dr Ian Dyson to prepare a report about installing a series of groynes to prevent sand erosion.

Dr Dyson said a groyne field would dramatically reduce the amount of sand carting needed at West Beach.

He said currently sand movement was “severely obstructed” by the breakwaters at the Patawalonga 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.