Minister for Tourism, Commercial Affairs, Public Transport and the Port Neil Costa MP has officially inaugurated the new Sandy Bay after a considerable public investment to recover one of the Rock’s best beaches.
The Sandy Bay project brought three ministries together in an inter-ministerial committee, Tourism, Environment and Technical Services which examined beach replenishment and other relevant issues.
Major coastal protection and regeneration works have completely transformed Sandy Bay from its almost non-existent state, into a sizeable beach.
The project was commenced following engineering studies of the coastal processes affecting the beach. Dutch firm Van Oord (Gibraltar) Ltd, an experienced coastal engineering contractor, has executed the works in conjunction with the Government’s Technical Services Department.
Two curved groynes and a frontal breakwater have also been constructed to protect the beach from the full erosional impact of wave action and trap shifting sand. The project has been extended to include a submerged breakwater connecting the ends of both groynes.
Approximately 50,000 tons of sand was imported from Western Sahara for the Sandy Bay regeneration project, as dredging in Gibraltarian waters is no longer permitted. The total cost of the project was close to $6.9 million.
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Press Release, June 27, 2014