Adelaide beach works
The Adelaide coastline is a highly modified environment as a result of urban development covering much of the original coastal dune system, impacting the natural coastal ecosystem. The state government has been actively managing Adelaide’s coastline for the last 50 years to protect property, the foreshore and infrastructure from storms while also providing sandy beaches for community enjoyment. Active management results in a beach system that is more resilient to storm damage.
Strong winds, large waves and storm surges, especially in the winter months, causes erosion of Adelaide’s beaches. The Department for Environment and Water monitors closely the entire coastline to determine where sand is needed.
In the southern section of the coastline sand is moved using an underground sand recycling pipeline from Glenelg to Kingston Park to maintain dunes and keep those beaches sandy. Trucks are used elsewhere to replenish beaches.
In the northern section, between West Beach and Largs Bay, the government is progressing with its plans for a long-term replenishment program - to be delivered via dredge - commencing in 2027. This program is the culmination of the Adelaide Beach Management Review, a comprehensive independent review which looked at all available coastal management options to find a long-term solution to erosion across Adelaide’s central and northern beaches.
In the meantime, various sand management projects are undertaken which involve delivering sand by truck.
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Current works
The State Government is investing $190 million over 20 years for a long-term replenishment program to manage erosion and sand build-up along the Adelaide coast from West Beach to North Haven. This program will reduce disruption to the community by implementing the most common method of sand management globally, as well as Australia.
An approved Environment Protection Authority (EPA) licence will enable the program to commence from 2027, and will include a once-off mass restoration to restore West Beach with 400,000 cubic metres of sand collected from north of the Outer Harbor channel breakwater.
In addition, the State Government will establish an annual replenishment program with an estimated 90,000 cubic metres of recycled sand each year collected from the northern coastline, primarily from sites where sand builds up at places like Semaphore and Largs Bay.
DEW has this week lodged an application with the EPA to support some dredging activity to occur in 2026. The application will open for public consultation on Friday 10 July via the EPA’s Engage page. The consultation will close on Friday 24 July.
If approved, the application proposes to undertake dredging between August and September 2026 with up to 90,000 cubic metres of sand taken from the nearshore of North Haven (used previously in the dredge management trial) delivered to nearshore locations at West Beach and Henley Beach South.
As dredging is conducted on the water, work can occur up to 24 hours a day for seven days a week. This type of dredging is the most common method of beach replenishment globally, as well as in Australia.
The Adelaide Beach Management Review (ABMR) found that dredging provides the best balance of cost, flexibility, safety and environmental care. Extended sand pipelines were found to still require heavy machinery on beaches with the potential to cause long-term disruption to beach users. Using trucks was also ruled out as a long-term solution due to noise, traffic, road damage and environmental impacts.
Works: Annual sand recycling to replenish beaches from Glenelg to Kingston Park.
Duration: April to October 2026
Contact: DEWCoasts@sa.gov.au or phone 8124 4928
Annual sand recycling operations to replenish beaches from Glenelg to Kingston Park are due to commence setting up on 27 April 2026.
Sand recycling to replenish beaches from Glenelg to Kingston Park through the underground pipeline system is undertaken annually. Works can take place between 7.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday.
During this time, residents and beachgoers are requested to take care and adhere to safety signage and flagging in place during operations. Works can be subject to change depending upon weather conditions, storms and operational requirements.
A temporary fenced work area will be assembled and operated on the northern side of the Glenelg jetty. Access to some areas of the foreshore will be restricted during the operations.
The sand at Glenelg is collected by a land plane, which travels the beach scraping layers of sand. There may be times when an excavator and trucks are required to access the sand at the northern end of Glenelg beach, adjacent to the rock breakwater. Sand mixed with seawater is discharged at different locations along the coast throughout the operation.
The removal of accumulated beach wrack (seaweed) is often required at Glenelg beach prior to sand collection. Beach wrack that needs to be removed is usually relocated to other beaches and used to stabilise dunes so it remains within the broader coastal system.
These operations are undertaken by McConnell Dowell on behalf of the Department for Environment and Water.
More information on the Glenelg to Kingston Park annual replenishment can be found here.
View the Glenelg to Kingston Park information brochure here.
Community Safety
Community safety is a priority. Safety signage is in place on the beaches during works.
The community are asked to please take extra care on the beaches while the works are underway and adhere to all safety signage and flagging in place during operations.
- Qualified contractors are employed for the works. The successful contractor is required to develop a job safety plan and a thorough risk management plan. This includes safe management between the work and members of the public.
- Traffic control complies with relevant Australian Standards and Code of Practice. Traffic controllers and/or signage is provided where necessary.
- We liaise with local surf lifesaving and sailing clubs regarding beach safety.
- Temporary foreshore signage is installed prior to works commencing.
If you are concerned about community safety during beach replenishment works please contact our team at DEWCoasts@sa.gov.au or phone 8124 4928.
Truck speed limits on beaches
Sand movement works on Adelaide’s beaches are undertaken by a contractor on behalf of the department.
Safety is of paramount importance when undertaking works along our beaches. As such, the contract includes stringent conditions regarding the speeds that the equipment (trucks and other machinery) can operate at when moving along the beach.
Speed of vehicles on the beach shall not be greater than:
- 40 km/h unless within 50 metres of any person or animals
- 25 km/h between 10 metres and 50 metres of any person or animals
- Must stop within 10 metres of any person or animal.
All vehicles must give way to all other traffic on the beach including pedestrians and animals. They must stop when pedestrians or animals wish to cross the line of movement of the trucks along the beach.
DEW contractor truck speed limits are compliant with the recent changes to the Road Traffic Act 1961. The department also has a supervisor monitoring compliance with these conditions.
Like cars and other vehicles trucks may also be equipped with Dash Cams.
Shorebirds
DEW works closely with Birdlife Australia prior to and during beach replenishment operations to minimise any potential impacts on Red-capped and Hooded plovers during breeding season. DEW is updated regularly by Birdlife Australia with regards to shorebird activity along the metropolitan coastline.
If required DEW contracts the services of a trained Birdlife spotter who remains present on the beach during operations.
DEW coast’s team, supervisors and contractors are committed to on-going training with Birdlife Australia staff.
