Sand boost to preserve Adelaide beaches

Starting from Monday 18 March, 50,000 cubic metres of quarry sand will be delivered to West Beach, via the Adelaide Sailing Club.

This is in addition to the 100,000 cubic metres of sand delivered to West Beach in 2023.

Adding large volumes of sand at this location benefits not only West Beach but also other beaches, including Henley Beach South and Henley Beach, as the sand naturally drifts north.

Up to 15,000 cubic metres of quarry sand will also be delivered to Henley Beach, via the Henley Sailing Club, starting from Tuesday 2 April.

The sand will be trucked along the beach from south of the Torrens Outlet to areas in need of replenishment along Henley Beach and Henley Beach South.

Works are expected to take about 5 to 6 weeks, but they will not occur over Easter public holidays, the April school holidays or on weekends to limit disruption to residents and businesses.

Department for Environment and Water Coast Manager Arron Broom said the state government had actively managed Adelaide’s coastline for the past 50 years to make it more resilient to storm damage.

“West Beach is a key location for beach replenishment,” Mr Broom said.

“By replenishing West Beach, this sand delivery will benefit the broader coastline as, over time, the additional sand will naturally move northward.

“The autumn beach replenishment works will help to provide a protective buffer against storms and windy weather over winter, while also keeping more sand on our beaches.”

Adelaide’s coastline is a highly modified environment that needs to be managed as a result of urban development covering much of the original dune system.

The department uses decades of monitoring, science, knowledge and experience in managing Adelaide’s beaches to inform decisions that benefit the metropolitan coastline as a whole.