Have your say on protecting Adelaide beaches

The state government launched a comprehensive independent review of long-term sand management options in December last year.

The review’s Independent Advisory Panel has shortlisted three primary options:

Dredging – This would involve sand being collected from the seabed using a dredging vessel and being pumped to West Beach or other beaches in need of sand.

This could include taking sand from deposits offshore of Largs Bay, Outer Harbor, Port Stanvac and/or regional sources.

This option may need to be complemented with quarry sand from time to time.

Dredging would cost $45 million to $60 million over 20 years if using metropolitan sand sources, but the cost could rise if sand was sourced from regional areas.

Pipeline – This would involve building an underground pipeline to transfer sand and seawater from beaches where sand is building up to beaches in need of sand replenishment.

This option would use a combination of quarry sand initially delivered to West Beach using trucks, and sand collected from areas between Semaphore Park and Largs Bay, either from on the beach or near the shoreline.

The bulk of the pipeline sand would be discharged at West Beach, but there would be additional discharge points to allow sand to be delivered to other beaches.

A pipeline option would cost $140 million to $155 million. This includes construction of the pipeline, buying additional quarry sand and operating the pipeline for 20 years.

Maintain current arrangement – Sand would be collected from beaches at Semaphore and Largs Bay using an excavator and front-end loader and trucked to areas where sand is required. External quarry sand would also be delivered using trucks on public roads.

This option would cost $100 million to $110 million over the next 20 years.

The 12-month scientific review has built upon previous investigations, data and analysis of Adelaide beach management, and explored relevant interstate and overseas examples of coastal management.

Independent Advisory Panel chairman Mark Searle said that, without moving sand, some beaches would erode to rock and clay.

“As there is only limited new sand naturally entering the system, Adelaide’s beaches have to be managed to protect homes, businesses and infrastructure from storms, and to provide sandy beaches for our community to enjoy,” Mr Searle said.

“It is very important to the success of the review that it is informed by an understanding of what matters most to the community. That’s why the panel wants to hear your views on the different options before we provide advice to the state government.”

People can provide feedback on the coastal management options by visiting yoursay.sa.gov.au/abmr-shortlist by 5pm on Sunday 15 October.

For more information on Adelaide beach management and the different options visit: www.environment.sa.gov.au/coasts