COVER FEATURE
Image showing benefit area of Palm Beach Artificial Reef)
BEACH NOURISHMENT Fast forward to 2017 and the City began laying the groundwork for construction of the artificial reef. A beach nourishment program delivered more than three million cubic metres of sand to Gold Coast beaches. Palm Beach received its share, with 470 000 cubic metres of extra sand delivered as a buffer to protect the coastline from the impacts of storms and large swells. Mayor Tate said the sand was directed to specific sites along Palm Beach and
the rest of the coastline by a dredging vessel either “bottom dumping” or “rainbowing”. “Bottom dumping releases sand near the wave breaking zone through the vessel’s hull. Rainbowing projects sand from the bow of the vessel into the wave breaking zone. Thanks to extensive investigations we have ample information to know exactly where to place the sand,” he said. A novel beach nourishment framework used multiple data sources and methods
to inform sand placement locations on a weekly basis, with the aim of balancing operational, morphological, social and environmental outcomes. This innovative methodology drove placement of individual artificial sand banks or a ‘sand pattern’, which is in contrast to the more usual ‘fill to profile’ methodology used for beach nourishment. This approach was successful in reducing beach use interruptions, safeguarding nourishment production and delivering temporarily enhanced surfing amenity.
Dredge delivering sand to nourish Gold Coast beaches
Construction Engineering Australia • Dec 2019/Jan 2020
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