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Sandy beaches are beautiful spots to lay out a towel for a tan, pop up that controversial CoolCabana or enjoy a swim in the ocean.
They also offer a buffer to the coast against waves, offer habitats and feeding grounds to invertebrates and protect nesting turtles and shorebirds.
But they are increasingly eroding with more extreme weather events and rising sea levels.
FEEDING BEACHES
In late March, the City of Stirling undertook sand nourishment on one of Perth’s beloved beaches, Mettams Pool.
Sand (or beach) nourishment is a process in which sand is relocated from another beach, quarry or dredged offshore to replenish eroded sand from beaches.
This protects sand and structures from further erosion, creating a barrier to the existing coastline.
An excess 5,000 cubic metres of sand at Trigg Beach was trucked to Mettams Pool to protect the coast ahead of anticipated winter storms.
LOW IMPACT, HIGH REWARD
Sand nourishment is considered a short-term and low-impact solution to coastal erosion.
It is a soft engineering method to combat erosion, without the need for permanent structures like sea walls or groynes.
It’s a short-term solution – or can be made long term if paired with other erosion solutions.
THE CATCH
Although sand nourishment is generally seen to have more benefits than downfalls, there are negative impacts to consider.
In particular, the question of whether long-term solutions may be more economical looms over sand nourishment practices.
The impact of sand nourishment on macroinvertebrates – minute creatures living between sand granules on beaches – can be profoundly negative.
Macroinvertebrates are essential to marine ecosystems and play a role in cleaning oceans.
They can get crushed as a result of sand nourishment – under the weight of the new sand or the machinery used to truck in the sand.
Macroinvertebrates living in the transported sand may also not adapt to their new environment.
FUTURE THINKING
Off the back of the sand nourishment at Mettams Pool in March, the City of Stirling is also in process of considering a new coastal environment management plan.
For the City of Stirling, sand nourishment exists as part of a holistic bigger picture – as it should always be.
