Two popular North Coogee beaches will have their sand levels replenished this May and June.
The City of Cockburn regularly conducts work to redeposit sand that erodes from some of our beaches. This sand movement is a result of dynamic coastal processes caused by seasonal weather impacts and ocean currents impacted by the marinas and groynes along the Cockburn and Fremantle coastline.
City of Cockburn Head of Sustainability and Environment Chris Beaton said the replenishment works aimed to return sand from where it had built up to some of the most eroded sections of local beach.
“This will help reduce future erosion and protect coastal amenities making the beaches easier to access and more enjoyable to use in readiness for the busy warmer months of spring and summer,” Mr Beaton said.
Unlike previous years, trucks will not be used to transport sand to replenishment locations. Sand required for this year’s replenishment works is in deeper water that can’t be accessed by land-based excavators.
A floating barge will pump accumulated sand from about 25m offshore at Chelydra Point Beach, in front of South Fremantle Power Station.
“The floating barge will take sediment from the seabed and pump it via pipe to the new locations, resulting in a significant reduction in disruption for beach users with minimal or no beach closures,” Mr Beaton said.
About 12,500 cubic metres of sand will be deposited at Coogee Beach adjacent to Socrates Parade, about halfway between the floating dive stairs and the limestone beach access stairs.
Another 10,000 cubic metres will be deposited at C. Y. O’Connor Beach near the Catherine Point groyne.
“The sand slurry will be deposited at C.Y. O’Connor Beach via a temporary pipe from the barge and at Coogee Beach through permanent pipes buried in the Port Coogee Marina breakwater,” Mr Beaton said.
“Because this sand is coming from under the ocean in 2-3 metres of water via a different extraction method, it will initially be a different colour to the sand on C.Y. O’Connor and Coogee beaches.
“Once this sand is deposited on the shoreline, the natural bleaching process will occur and it will lighten due to exposure to the sun and air in the weeks after to match the surrounding sand.
“This sand and sediment has been tested and is clean and safe for removal and relocation to Coogee and C.Y. O’Connor beaches.”
Visit the City’s
website to learn more about how we manage coastal erosion.