Adelaide Beach Management Review

Dredging trial update

As part of the state government’s commitment to combat coastal erosion along Adelaide’s coastline, an operational dredging trial was conducted between October and November 2024.

The trial, which was a key recommendation of the Adelaide Beach Management Review’s Independent Advisory Panel, will help determine the feasibility of dredging as a solution to managing sand within the beach system.

Sand was dredged from an area south of the North Haven Marina and delivered by barge to West Beach.

Sand was also dredged from around the West Beach Boat Harbour and delivered closer to the beach.

Operations were regulated by the Environment Protection Authority through a licence and an approved Dredge Management Plan (DMP).

The Department for Environment and Water is currently undertaking monitoring and evaluation of the dredging trial data and will report its findings to government in the coming months.

Adelaide Beach Management Review — One of the barges used in the dredging trial.

Stakeholder engagement

Two consultative groups have been convened to provide an effective mechanism for the sharing of information across numerous special interest groups. One group has brought together stakeholders and special interest groups from the Central Beaches area and the other stakeholders and special interest groups from the Northern Beaches area.

The purpose of these groups has been to:

To facilitate an open, accurate, reciprocal communication channel between the project team and community representatives to ask questions, raise issues, concerns, and opportunities, and seek clarification or further information.
To review ideas and concepts and provide feedback with respect to the project, including feedback from community organisations to which group members belong.
To facilitate broader communications to central and northern beach communities by sharing information regarding the project with their respective organisations.

The Central and Northern Stakeholder Group were not considered decision-making groups, however every effort was made to seek agreement and work collaboratively. Overall responsibility for all decisions rests with DEW, considering and weighing up all matters including but not limited to community opinion, budget, project objectives, technical considerations, environmental constraints and timing.

DEW Thanks all members of the groups for their time and contributions.

Dredge Management Plan

Dredging is regulated by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) through a licence and an approved Dredge Management Plan (DMP). The DMP covers the methods for dredging, sand placement, and how potential impacts on the environment, public health, and local areas will be managed.

For more details, view the full plan here.