Shoal Bay sand management

Project overview

Our beaches were impacted by wild weather during August 2024 which included large swells, high tides and strong winds.

The formal pedestrian pathway has been damaged, and the informal sand dune pathway, which is a favourite of many local residents, has been washed away.

The foreshore has been assessed and based on our current weather forecast, it's been determined that Shoal Bay Road and nearby trees are not at immediate risk.

The damage has been classified as ‘natural erosion’ rather than a natural disaster. This means immediate repair funding is not available.

How is the erosion being addressed?

Our Coastal Management Program, or CMP, which is currently with the Minister of Environment for certification, outlines a long-term solution for managing coastal erosion. Once it’s certified, we’ll be able to undertake assessments to determine if permanent coastal protection measures can be delivered, as outlined in the CMP for the Shoal Bay foreshore.

In the meantime, we’re looking to start sand nourishment to help safeguard Shoal Bay Road until more permanent solutions can be delivered.

We're really pushing the State Government to fast-track the approval of our Coastal Management Program. We know how important the Shoal Bay foreshore is to both locals and visitors.

Murray Smith

Project Manager

After works

During works

Before works

Timeline

Timeline item 1 - complete

Sand management works August 2024

Works to begin 15 August 2024 and are expected to take four weeks to complete.
These works will focus on the section of beach between the Beach Road turn off and the Government Road interseciton.
Timeline item 2 - complete

Dune fencing August

Completion of dune fencing near the boat ramp at Shoal Bay. The fence works compliment the sand nourishment carried out last month around the boat ramp.
Timeline item 3 - complete

Sand management works 8-19 July 2024

These works were completed during July 2024 and focused on the area on either side of the Shoal Bay boat ramp.

Latest updates

Shoal Bay Beach Sand Nourishment - The latest round of sand nourishment at Shoal Bay wrapped up last week. Around 850M3 of sand was recovered from Little Beach and dispersed at the eastern end of Shoal Bay. The majority of the sand was placed around the boat ramp with the remainder going to the far eastern end of the beach. This is considered the top of the sand distribution system on the southern side of the port and the sand will naturally migrate to the west, nourishing accreted areas. This should be the last of this work now until well into next year.

Works are now complete on the sand nourishment at Shoal Bay Foreshore. The tTotal tally count is 9100 tons of sand. Temporary fencing will be removed around the double table shelter now that the dune fence has been re-established.

There has been 5500 tons of sand moved from the borrow site as of 27 August 2024.

Contractors continued to move sand last week, prioritising protecting Government Road.

Commencing this week, we'll be dragging up the bench and shaping the bank, as well as beach remediation.

Works continued this week on sand nourishment along the eroded areas of Shoal Bay Foreshore. Sand is being stockpiled at the western end of Shoal Bay Beach and transported with 4WD dump trucks to the affected areas in the east. This sand will provide a buffer to protect the foreshore assets from damage during extreme weather events. Around 700 tonnes of sand is being relocated per day and works could take up to four weeks.

Shoal Bay Dune Fencing – In response to the coastal erosion issues at Shoal Bay, works were completed this week on a section of dune fencing near the boat ramp. The fence works compliment the sand nourishment carried out last month around the boat ramp. Further sand nourishment in coastal erosion areas at Shoal Bay will continue next week.