Works continue to keep Adelaide’s coastline sandy

Around 100,000 cubic metres (or 40 Olympic-sized swimming pools) of sand has been successfully pumped via the sand recycling pipeline from Glenelg to the beaches between Kingston Park and Somerton Park.

Department for Environment and Water (DEW), Executive Director of Environment, Heritage and Sustainability Cate Hart said, the sand recycling started in July and will finish ahead of schedule in late October, thanks to recent suitable weather.

“This annual sand recycling ensures that these southern beaches and dunes remain in good condition, for the thousands of people that flock to them during the warmer months,” Ms Hart said.

The Government is delivering the Securing the Future of our Coastline program, a long-term solution to restore and maintain the sand at West Beach and Henley Beach South.

As part of the program, a sand recycling pipeline will be built from Semaphore to West Beach, and about 500,000 cubic metres of external sand will be imported to make up for sand losses over the years.

Ms Hart added that sand recycling is recommencing today (Monday, 14 October) from the Semaphore South breakwater to replenish Adelaide’s most vulnerable beaches at West Beach and Henley Beach South.

“Sand has been carted to West Beach and Henley Beach South from the Semaphore South breakwater since October 2018,” Ms Hart said.

“As part of rebuilding West Beach, the recycling of sand from Semaphore will provide urgently needed replenishment sand to maintain West Beach and Henley Beach South, while additional external sand is sourced to increase the overall sand for Adelaide’s beach system.”

The beach between Semaphore and Largs Bay jetties has been identified as a back-up sand source, to use when the Semaphore South breakwater naturally replenishes. Sand recycling will start from this section of the metropolitan coastline in the coming weeks.

For more information go to the DEW coasts website.