Updates about projects to replenish Adelaide’s central beaches

Sand delivery paused at West Beach during school holidays

3 October 2024

The state government has paused sand delivery activities at West Beach to minimise disruptions for families during the school holidays and to protect vulnerable hooded plover chicks.

The pause aims to provide a safe and enjoyable beach experience for families during the holiday period, while ensuring the protection of hooded plover chicks. The pause will remain in place until the end of the school holidays. Dredging operations will continue as scheduled and are not affected.

While sand delivery has paused, there will still be some minor activity at West Beach Harbour over the next week. This includes moving and relocating seagrass from the harbour beach to make way for sailing club activities.

Dredging activities will continue at West Beach as part of a state government commitment to relocate sand and help combat erosion of Adelaide's coastline.

This approach ensures minimal disruption for beachgoers and the community, while safeguarding a vulnerable species and supporting long-term coastal management goals.

Find out more about the dredging trial, and how to help protect hooded plovers for beachgoers and dog owners.

Dredging trial to protect Adelaide’s beaches

3 October 2024

The dredging trial to manage sand and protect Adelaide’s central beaches from erosion has entered the operational stage. The aim of the trial is to test dredging approaches to manage sand and protect the coastline.

Dredging is currently happening just south of North Haven Marina breakwater. Sand will be barged to West Beach. The trial will later involve dredging sand from two locations at West Beach to test different dredge placement methods.

The trial will continue until November 2024 and will provide valuable information for future sand management strategies. Further work will also focus on identifying long-term sand sources.

For more details or to speak with our team, visit our website or register for updates. We will keep you informed as the trial progresses.

Dredging trial expanded to combat erosion

27 September 2024

The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) has identified two new dredging zones – one about 500 metres off West Beach and another around West Beach Boat Harbour.

As previously announced, sand will still be dredged from an area south of North Haven Marina and transported, by barge, to West Beach. The additional dredging zones were chosen after extensive scientific testing to find suitable sand sources and considering environmental effects, including not disturbing seagrass.

By dredging sand from multiple locations, DEW aims to gather important data on how dredging and relocating sand can help maintain healthy beaches. This expanded trial has now received approval from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

Dredging was a key recommendation of the independent Adelaide Beach Management Review. The trial will assess whether dredging is a long-term, sustainable solution for replenishing Adelaide’s central beaches.

It will also test different methods of delivering sand, including pumping it directly on to the beach and placing it nearshore to help buffer against wave erosion.

DEW aims to begin dredging next week with completion expected by late November. Throughout the trial, there will be studies on the dredging process, sand sources and sand placement methods.

Dredging operations are permitted to run daily, including at night, and will adhere to an approved noise management plan and EPA legislation.

There is no expected disruption to boat access at North Haven Marina or West Beach Boat Ramp but there will be an exclusion zone around dredging equipment. Temporary restrictions at West Beach may be needed for safety during sand delivery trials.

The Adelaide Beach Management Review considered three options for managing sand – dredging, bringing in sand by truck from quarries, and building a pipeline between Largs Bay and West Beach.

Dredging has the potential reduce community disruption by limiting the amount of machinery on the beaches.

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

Hooded plover chicks spotted at West Beach

19 September 2024

Hooded plover chicks have been spotted at West Beach. This means that delivery of quarry sand is still paused to allow the chicks to safely hatch and begin feeding without disturbance.

By temporarily pausing operations, we are giving these endangered birds the best chance to thrive. The pause may result in some beach replenishment delays at West Beach, however, it is vital for the survival of the hooded plover chicks.

Sand carting will resume once it's confirmed safe for the birds. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed. For more information on how you can support conservation efforts, visit BirdLife Australia or follow our updates.

Seagrass relocation resumes at Glenelg

19 September 2024

The relocation of seagrass stockpiled on the north side of Glenelg Jetty has been temporarily postponed due to newly hatched hooded plover chicks at West Beach. The hooded plover is a threatened species and only about 70 birds remain between Adelaide and the Fleurieu Peninsula. To ensure their safety, we are holding off on moving the seagrass to West Beach until it’s safe to do so without disturbing the chicks.

In the meantime, we are proceeding with relocating the seagrass from Glenelg Beach to Semaphore Park, specifically between Third Avenue and Mirani Court. The seagrass plays an essential role in maintaining a healthy coastal ecosystem and will help stabilise dunes at Semaphore Park, protect against erosion and improve beach resilience.

Increased activity is expected around Glenelg Beach during the seagrass relocation. Please follow all safety signage and instructions as the safety of our community remains our top priority.

Sand carting temporarily paused at West Beach to protect nesting hooded plovers

5 September 2024

The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) is working with BirdLife Australia to protect hooded plovers. Delivery of quarry sand into West Beach has been temporarily postponed to help keep the chicks safe as they hatch and start feeding. This will give them a better chance to survive by reducing disturbances.

Beach-nesting birds like hooded and red-capped plovers face many dangers, including predators like foxes and disturbances from people and dogs. Their nests are often just shallow scrapes in the sand, making them easy to miss and vulnerable during the breeding season, which runs from August to March. Temporary fencing and signs are installed around the nesting sites to help keep them safe. It's important for the community to help by keeping dogs on leashes and staying away from these areas.

We understand that this may cause some inconvenience, but by respecting these temporary changes, we can all help protect these vulnerable birds. This effort is supported by BirdLife Australia and is crucial for improving the survival rates of Hooded Plovers. By being careful about our actions on the beach, we can help preserve these birds on our coast.

DEW will continue to work with BirdLife Australia and will start sand carting again when it is safe. Your support is very important in helping us protect these birds.

While sand delivery is paused, our work to maintain the coastline is still making good progress. Since 29 July 2024, we have delivered 34,650m³ of quarry sand to West Beach, putting us slightly ahead of schedule. This work helps protect the coast from storms and high tides and provides a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone.

If you want to learn more about our efforts with BirdLife Australia to protect beach-nesting birds, please visit their website for details about the Sharing our Shores program.

Beach replenishment at Glenelg

5 September 2024

The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) has started beach replenishment work on the southern beaches. This work helps to manage the natural movement of sand along the coast by moving sand from Glenelg to beaches further south, like Kingston Park. This is important for keeping our beaches sandy for community enjoyment.

Seagrass and algae that washes onto the shore at Glenelg makes it difficult to collect sand from the beach. Sometimes called ‘seaweed’, it is collected and moved to West Beach where it helps protect the dunes and supports the coastal ecosystem.

Repairs to several Glenelg Jetty pylons are finished. This has allowed us to install a seawater pumping system, which mixes sand with seawater so that it can be moved through a pipeline to beaches south of Glenelg. Pumping sand to the southern beaches is expected to start this week.

We’ve been working in partnership with McConnell Dowell on this beach replenishment project since 2013. It is critical for protecting our coastline, safeguarding infrastructure, and making sure our beaches are enjoyable for the community. We plan to finish this year’s work by mid-November.

A temporary fence is setup around the sand pumping equipment north of the jetty. Please be careful near areas where tractors, trucks and excavators are working. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this important work.

For further details or questions, please contact us. We will keep you updated as the project continues.

Glenelg to Kingston Park sand recycling operations

22 August 2024

We’re getting ready to move sand from Glenelg to Kingston Park beaches. This is required to reverse the natural transport of sand along the beach system in a northward direction, accumulating in the Glenelg area.

Before moving the sand, we are removing beach wrack at Glenelg. Beach wrack is debris, including seaweed, algae and sponges, which washes up on the shore. These natural materials are important for the environment, so we move the wrack to other beaches where it helps protect the sand dunes.

Numerous Glenelg Jetty pylons are currently being repaired and this is anticipated to be finished next week. Once the repairs are complete, it will be possible to install the seawater pumping system used to mix seawater with the sand that is transported to beaches south of Glenelg all the way to Kingston Park through the sand pumping pipeline. We will soon start moving sand from the beach north of the jetty, where it will be sieved before being mixed with seawater and pumped through the pipeline.

The Department for Environment and Water has worked with construction engineering firm McConnell Dowell since 2013 to undertake this work on an annual basis. The work is required to protect our coastline, keep foreshore infrastructure safe and provide sandy beaches for the community to enjoy. This year, the work is expected to be completed by mid-November.

There’s a temporary fence around the sand collection unit on the northern side of the jetty, so some parts of the beach will have limited access for the duration of the work. Tractors, trucks, and excavators will be needed to work in different areas at the northern end of Glenelg Beach to collect and prepare the sand before it enters the pumping system. We apologise for any inconvenience and ask beach users to exercise caution when near these activities.

We thank you for your patience and will keep you updated as the project continues. If you have any questions or want to know more, you can contact us.

Dredging trial progress

22 August 2024

The state government’s dredging trial is progressing after recommendations from the independent Adelaide Beach Management Review. The trial is all about finding better ways to manage sand and protect our beaches.

The dredging trial is investigating taking sand from a nearshore area between Taperoo and North Haven and moving it by barge to help replenish West Beach. The trial must be finished by early November, in accordance with EPA requirements.

This project is important for finding long-term ways to protect our coast and improve the beach for everyone, including local businesses. The trial also includes talking to the community and making sure the work is done safely with minimal disruption.

We’ll keep you updated as the trial continues. The results will help shape how we manage sand along our coast in the future. If you have any questions or want to know more, you can contact us.

Henley Beach and West Beach replenishment

8 August 2024

The state government is continuing to work at Henley Beach and West Beach in line with the recommendations of the independent Adelaide Beach Management Review.

The final deliveries of quarry sand to Henley Beach are nearly complete. Sand delivery to replenish West Beach started on Monday 29 July.

Public access to the beaches will be maintained and we encourage everyone to stay safe and adhere to safety signage during the works. No work will occur on weekends, public holidays or during school holidays to minimise disruption.

The department is monitoring the presence and behaviour of hooded plovers and other nesting shorebirds alongside trained BirdLife Australia spotters.

The ongoing work at West Beach will continue throughout the year and updates will be provided as the project progresses.

The replenishment will help prevent erosion, protect coastal infrastructure and improve the beach environment, benefiting both the local community and businesses. It ensures the beaches remain safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Dredging trial progress

8 August 2024

Progress continues with the state government’s dredging trial based on recommendations from the independent Adelaide Beach Management Review. The trial is exploring sustainable sand management practices along Adelaide’s coast.

The trial aims to find sustainable sand management practices to maintain and protect Adelaide’s coast. It is a key initiative to address coastal erosion and improve beach conditions.

Dredging will occur between Taperoo and North Haven. The sand will be transported by barge to replenish West Beach. The trial is planned to conclude by early November.

The dredging trial will help develop sustainable methods to manage sand along the coast, protect coastal infrastructure and improve the beach environment for the community and local businesses.

The trial includes community consultation and comprehensive environmental assessments to ensure the project is carried out safely and with minimal disruption to the public.

As the trial progresses, updates will be provided to keep the community informed. The results of the trial will help shape future sand management practices along Adelaide’s coast.

Find out more