The City of Charles Sturt has been advocating for our 12kms of coastline, which is home to some of the most popular beaches in the state. We have consistently raised concerns and asked to partner with the State Government to address sand erosion issues.
The lack of effective management of the coastline at West Beach, Henley South, Henley Beach and Semaphore Park, which is a State Government responsibility, is a long-term existing issue.
It has already resulted in the degradation of the seawall at West Beach, which was reconstructed with a rock wall by the City of Charles Sturt in 2021, along with the beach accessways becoming structurally compromised along the coast, and the vertical seawall at Joe’s Kiosk at Henley Beach at risk of being structurally compromised.
We continue to advocate for an alternative solution to the sand erosion. We understand the Adelaide Beach Management Review is underway, but the current situation is urgent and effective beach management is required now.
Sand Erosion - Who to contact
Enquiries regarding the beach, sand erosion or beach works should be directed to the State Government's Department of Environment and Water (DEW).
Phone: 8204 1910
Website: www.environment.sa.gov.au
City of Charles Sturt seeks release of the Adelaide Beach Management Review outcomes and implementation
11 January 2024
The City of Charles Sturt continues to advocate for the health of our beautiful coast. We love our beaches, especially at this time of year when our 12km of coastline is enjoyed by thousands of locals and visitors alike. The lack of an effective long term beach management solution and loss of sand negatively impacts both our beach and our coastal infrastructure, and we are supporting our community’s call this week for an immediate sand management solution. We have appreciated the opportunity to participate in the latest beach management review. The review timelines state the review was to be completed in November 2023. We now seek release of the review outcomes and implementation.
September 2023 Edition of Kaleidoscope
The City of Charles Sturt has long been advocating for our 12kms of coastline, which is home to some of the most popular beaches in the state.
We have consistently raised concerns and asked to partner with the State Government to address sand erosion issues to ensure a sustainable dune system and beach that provides coastal protection and amenity for our residents and the broader community. This advocacy reflects and supports the many residents that are also concerned about our coast.
Sand moves north along our coastline via longshore drift which over time results in a buildup or surplus of sand in one area and a deficit in another. Our suburban beaches require on- going management to address this.
The lack of effective management of the coastline at West Beach, Henley South, Henley Beach and Semaphore Park, which is a State Government responsibility, is a long- term existing issue. The current government is undertaking another review to assess solutions.
City of Charles Sturt CEO Paul Sutton urges State Government to find a long term solution
3 August 2023
ABC Radio Adelaide
Interview with Adrian Ralph, General Manager of Asset Management Services, City of Charles Sturt following protestors halting works at the Torrens Outlet to replenish sand at Henley South.
"Council is not part of the protest action down there today or yesterday, but Council is advocating and we (the Mayor) has written to the Premier to actually request that we find other sand sources other than the outlet (the Torrens Outlet at Henley South) which desperately needs more sand." Adrian Ralph, General Manager of Asset Management Services, City of Charles Sturt
29 June 2023
ABC Radio Adelaide
Interview with Adrian Ralph, General Manager of Asset Management Services, City of Charles Sturt following the decision of Council to reject the State Government’s proposal to build a rock wall to protect Joe’s Kiosk. The City of Charles Sturt believe this solution is a band-aid fix and are urging the State Government to consider a longer-term solution to replenish the eroding sand along our coastline.
“We're not saying there should be one particular solution. We just need a solution. We're not the experts in saying how the best way to put sand on the beach, that's the State Government's responsibility and DEW need to manage that. We just need a solution and we need it as soon as possible.” Adrian Ralph, General Manager of Asset Management Services, City of Charles Sturt
27 March 2023
ABC Radio Adelaide
Interview with Paul Sutton, CEO, City of Charles Sturt in response to soft sand issue reported by beachgoers at Henley Beach following the dumping of quarry sand by the State Government's Department of Environment and Water as an interim measure to replenish the significant sand loss due to tidal movement.
1 March 2023
ABC Radio Adelaide
Interview with Paul Sutton, CEO City of Charles Sturt in response to announcement of sand replenishment of 15,000 cubic metres at Henley Beach and 10,000 for Semaphore Park. The City of Charles Sturt is grateful for the small contribution however these are tiny little drops in the bucket that is the problem along these areas of the coastline.
"Around 115,000 cubic metres per year moves northward along the coast from these areas. Putting 10,000 and 15,000 into these two spots where it is particularly eroded at the moment is a really small percentage of what annually moves out of these areas." Paul Sutton, CEO City of Charles Sturt
6 February 2023
ABC Radio Adelaide
Interview with Paul Sutton, CEO City of Charles Sturt in response to the City of Charles Sturt needing to close beach accessways that have become unsafe due to many years of the natural flow of sand along our coast.
29 November 2022
ABC Radio Adelaide
Interview with Paul Sutton, CEO City of Charles Sturt in response to restrictions on beach accessways along West Beach, Henley South, Henley Beach and Semaphore Park due to sand loss in the area at a volume of 100,000 cubic metres per year moving northward.
"We've had a policy in place for a number of years called Adelaide Living Beaches and it's a policy that the State governments had in place and it's been successful in some areas, but it's been an abject failure in others, and in these areas that we're talking about, it's been a real failure because they've been unable to replenish the sand at an adequate rate." Paul Sutton, CEO City of Charles Sturt
Our News/Announcements
11 January 2024
Adelaide Beach Management Review
The City of Charles Sturt seeks release of the review outcomes and implementation of the Adelaide Beach Management Review.
21 July 2023
Sand Erosion at Henley Beach
The media has reported an announcement made by the State Government to dig up 20,000 cubic metres of sand around the River Torrens outlet at Henley Beach South, and spread it along the coastline further north to Henley Beach.
4 May 2023
Have Your Say on the Future of our Beaches
Our coastline is currently at risk due to the sand erosion happening at our beaches and this will have significant environmental and economic impacts without ongoing and sustainable sand management solutions.
8 March 2023
Beach Accessway Closure
The beach accessway opposite 171 The Esplanade, Henley Beach was closed as a result of erosion and undermining due to the lack of effective management of this section of the coastline. Management of sand along the coastline is the responsibility of the State Government's Department of Environment and Water (DEW).
1 March 2023
Calling for a Sustainable Solution for our Coast
We are grateful to receive the news that the Department of Environment and Water will replenish the beaches of Henley Beach and Henley Beach South with 15,000 cubic metres of imported sand and Semaphore Park (10,000 cubic metres). This is in addition to the annual beach replenishment program at West Beach (50,000 cubic metres).
While we welcome the announcement, the amounts of sand are still quite a small contribution and each year these City of Charles Sturt beaches lose around 115,000 cubic metres of sand as it flows northward.
6 February 2023
Low Sand Levels Cause Closures
Unfortunately, we’ve had to close some beach accessways between West Beach and Henley Beach due to low sand levels to ensure beach users are safe.
Low sand levels are an ongoing issue across City of Charles Sturt beaches, and we require more sand to replenish our City’s vulnerable beaches to counter long term drift. We lose around 100,000 cubic metres of sand each year from our coastline, and urgent action is needed to address this issue as the beaches are in long term deficit.
30 November 2022
More Sand for our Beaches
We have a long-standing challenge with sand along our beautiful coastline, with sand required to replenish our City’s vulnerable beaches to counter long term littoral drift. This erosion started with West Beach and Henley South, but is now extending to Henley and other critically affected areas at Semaphore Park. Sand levels across our beaches have dropped over a number of years, with over 100,000 cubic metres per year lost from our coast in Charles Sturt as the sand moves northward.
7 March 2022
Sand Pipeline to Protect Vulnerable Beaches
Following the completion of the assessment process, the State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) has approved the development application of a 10km underground sand pipeline to help replenish our City’s southern, more vulnerable beaches, West Beach and Henley South, with the works driven by the State Government and to be completed by the Department of Environment and Water.
8 December 2020
Sand Trials at West Beach
The State Government Department for Environment and Water is working to deliver various land-based sands to West Beach this week as part of the Securing the future of our coastline project.
More info
26 June 2020
Councils Combine to Protect Coast
City of Charles Sturt has joined forces with City of Port Adelaide Enfield to help rejuvenate and protect sand dunes at Semaphore South.
Our Council was recommended by the State Government's Department for Environment and Water (DEW) to lend our expertise and assist the City of Port Adelaide Enfield with the installation of sand drift net fencing as part of the project.