Protecting Adelaide coastline from beach erosion

Beach replenishment works will continue this winter to reduce the effects of coastal erosion on Adelaide beaches.

Strong winds, large waves and storm surges, especially in winter, cause erosion along the coast.

A sustainable approach to managing Adelaide’s coastline involves moving sand from areas where sand accumulates to areas of depletion, supplemented by bringing in additional sand from external sources when required.

Upcoming works will include:

West Beach will continue to be replenished with sand from land-based quarries. Commencing Monday 28 August, 50,000 cubic metres of quarry sand will be delivered to West Beach via the Adelaide Sailing Club.

This is in addition to the 50,000 cubic metres delivered in April-June 2023 and the 50,000 cubic metres delivered in spring 2022.

This meets the state government’s commitment to maintain West Beach while the Adelaide Beach Management Review is underway.

Works are now underway to replenish Glenelg North Beach. Accumulated sand in and adjacent to West Beach harbour will be moved by truck to replenish Glenelg North beach and raise the beach level in preparation for larger scale replenishment commencing in November 2023.

Replenishment will continue in early November with sand sourced from the accumulation on the south side of the harbour. Works will be completed before school holidays in December. This work will complete the annual Glenelg North beach replenishment operations for 2023.

As part of the annual movement of sand from Glenelg Beach via the sand pumping pipeline, the sand collection unit will be moving from its current location on the north side of the jetty to the southern side. The move is scheduled for mid -September, weather permitting.

Commencing this week, sand will be collected from the Semaphore Breakwater and trucked along the beach to replenish eroded dunes at Semaphore Park between Mirani Court and Third Avenue.

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