Spotlight on Glenelg to Kingston Park sand recycling

The Government of South Australia’s Department for Environment and Water is getting ready to move sand from Glenelg to Kingston Park beaches. This is required to reverse the natural transport of sand along the beach system in a northward direction, accumulating in the Glenelg area.

Before moving the sand, they are removing beach wrack at Glenelg. Beach wrack is debris, including seaweed, algae and sponges, which washes up on the shore.

According to the Government, these natural materials are important for the environment, so we move the wrack to other beaches where it helps protect the sand dunes.

Numerous Glenelg Jetty pylons are currently being repaired and this is anticipated to be finished next week.

Once the repairs are complete, it will be possible to install the seawater pumping system used to mix seawater with the sand that is transported to beaches south of Glenelg all the way to Kingston Park through the sand pumping pipeline.

“We will soon start moving sand from the beach north of the jetty, where it will be sieved before being mixed with seawater and pumped through the pipeline,” said the Government.

The Department for Environment and Water has worked with construction engineering firm McConnell Dowell since 2013 to undertake this work on an annual basis.

The work is required to protect the coastline, keep foreshore infrastructure safe and provide sandy beaches for the community to enjoy.