The construction of a sand transfer system is complete at Jimmys Beach near Hawks Nest, NSW, and the trial activities are now underway, MidCoast Council said in their today’s release.
The main goal of the project is to build a sand buffer onto the beach, preparing it for erosion during severe weather events, said the council.
A tri-funding arrangement between the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, MidCoast Council and the Department of Primary Industries Crown Lands and Water, the $4.1 million project uses pumps to take sand from the Winda Woppa sand stockpile to renourish Jimmys Beach.
According to the council’s official announcement, “this week, the sand began to pump onto the beach, commencing a three week renourishment test period of the sand transfer system that aims to provide a temporary buffer for this winter season. Southerly winds and swells, which usually arrive on the east coast during weather characterized by low pressure systems, cause the sand to be stripped from Jimmys Beach.”
It’s planned to renourish the beach using the sand transfer system again as required later this year.
Sand renourishment has been identified as the most efficient way to provide a buffer for Jimmys Beach, and has the advantage of preserving the beach for people’s enjoyment, concluded the council.