Dredging trial gets underway to help replenish Adelaide’s central beaches

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has approved the dredging operations, which the state government announced in May in response to a key recommendation from the independent Adelaide Beach Management Review.

The trial is investigating if dredging can be used as a long-term, sustainable solution to replenish Adelaide’s central beaches, including West Beach, as sand naturally drifts north along the coast.

Works will include dredging sand from an area south of the North Haven Marina and delivering it by barge to West Beach.

The trial will also be expanded to dredge sand from an area about 500 metres off West Beach and from around the West Beach Boat Harbour.

The dredging zones were selected after extensive scientific testing to determine suitable sand sources and after considering a range of environmental factors, including not disturbing seagrass.

The trial will evaluate different methods to deliver the sand to West Beach. This will include pumping it directly on to the beach and placing it in a nearshore zone to create a buffer against erosion caused by waves.

The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) will manage the dredging, which will be completed by late November.

Dredging sand from multiple locations will provide important information to help determine if dredging can be used to maintain a healthy beach system.

A detailed scientific and environmental analysis of the dredging, available sand sources and placement methods will be conducted as part of the trial.

Dredging operations are permitted every day, including at night, in line with an approved noise management plan and EPA legislation.

Boat access to North Haven Marina and West Beach Boat Ramp is not expected to be affected during the trial, but there will be an exclusion zone around the dredging equipment.

Temporary restrictions to beach access at West Beach may be required for safety reasons when trialling methods to deliver the sand.

DEW Coast Manager David Osborn said Adelaide’s beaches played an important part in the lives of South Australians, so it was vital to manage them.

“Maintaining a healthy beach system means people can enjoy Adelaide’s beautiful coastline all year round,” Mr Osborn said.

“The independent Adelaide Beach Management Review considered three main options for managing sand – dredging, delivery of quarry sand via truck movements and constructing a pipeline between Largs Bay and West Beach.

“Dredging has the potential to cause less disruption to the community by reducing the amount of machinery on our beaches.”

DEW will continue to meet with key stakeholders, including local councils, surf clubs and sailing clubs, to keep them informed about the trial.

West Beach is also being boosted with 200,000 cubic metres of quarry sand over the next 12 months. The state government committed a total of $20.7 million in the 2024-25 state budget for the beach management works and dredging trial.

For more information about beach management, visit: Department for Environment and Water - Coasts.

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