South Australians love their beaches. Adelaide's beaches are the most visited public land in South Australia.
South Australia has over 5,000km of coastline (including offshore islands), and more than 90% of South Australians live on or near the coast.
Protecting our precious coastline is critical for South Australia's environmental, social and economic sustainability.
The department uses a range of strategies and practical activities to manage and protect our coastal environments and assists the Coast Protection Board in coastal protection. This work includes managing Adelaide's beaches since 1973.
Latest news - find out about West Beach sand management.
New life for our coastal environment
Our coastline is losing its natural resilience, which means that our beaches are less able to protect themselves from storms.
Along Adelaide's metropolitan beaches, sand naturally moves from south to north. This combined with human disturbances and development on the coastline means that sand is continuing to be lost from our beaches.
The South Australian Government has committed $5.2 million to implement the New Life for our Coastal Environment policy. The commitments include:
- Increased funding for metropolitan beach replenishment by $500,000 per annum for two years. Find out more about West Beach sand management.
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$1 million in research and development to improve management of Adelaide’s beaches and protect and enhance our coastal environments.
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$1 million in seagrass restoration with the aim of re-establishing seagrass meadows off the Adelaide coast.
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$1 million, in partnership with local councils to limit damaging stormwater run-off filled with sediment and pollutants from entering Gulf St Vincent.
- $1.2 million to establish new reef(s) for environmental and economic benefits.
Find out what else we're doing to protect our coasts across the state:
What can I do to help?
