Adelaide Beach Management Review Implementation Project – Phase II Dredge Trial

The sand on Adelaide’s beaches naturally moves from south to north due to wind and waves. This causes coastal erosion at West Beach and a build-up of sand at the northern beaches, from Semaphore to North Haven.

As announced in January 2026, the South Australian Government has developed plans for a new long-term replenishment program to manage erosion and sand build-up along the Adelaide coast from West Beach to North Haven. Further information on the state government’s proposed replenishment program is available on the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) website.

The state government has announced that it will both restore metropolitan beaches and implement a recycling program within the Northern Management Area via the method of dredging.

DEW previously trialled dredging as a method to recycle sand from the northern beaches to West Beach in 2024, as part of the Adelaide Beach Management Review Implementation Project - Dredge Trial (Phase I). The Phase I dredge trial was also regulated by the EPA and involved approximately 55,000 m3 of dredged sand being placed in nearshore placement areas at West Beach.

Phase II dredge trial

Under Phase II of the dredge trial, DEW has sought approval from the EPA to dredge sand at North Haven, which will be barged to West Beach and Henley Beach South and deposited into the water near the shore. Wave action will then bring the sand onshore to build up the beach, and in some cases it may be put into the nearshore using a cutter suction dredge.

There is one area where sand will be dredged from:

  • located at North Haven (used in the 2024 trial).

There are two sand placement areas:

  • Henley Beach South placement area
  • West Beach placement area (used in the 2024 trial).

The sand on Adelaide’s beaches naturally moves from south to north due to wind and waves. This causes coastal erosion at West Beach and a build-up of sand at the northern beaches, from Semaphore to North Haven.

As announced in January 2026, the South Australian Government has developed plans for a new long-term replenishment program to manage erosion and sand build-up along the Adelaide coast from West Beach to North Haven. Further information on the state government’s proposed replenishment program is available on the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) website.

The state government has announced that it will both restore metropolitan beaches and implement a recycling program within the Northern Management Area via the method of dredging.

DEW previously trialled dredging as a method to recycle sand from the northern beaches to West Beach in 2024, as part of the Adelaide Beach Management Review Implementation Project - Dredge Trial (Phase I). The Phase I dredge trial was also regulated by the EPA and involved approximately 55,000 m3 of dredged sand being placed in nearshore placement areas at West Beach.

Phase II dredge trial

Under Phase II of the dredge trial, DEW has sought approval from the EPA to dredge sand at North Haven, which will be barged to West Beach and Henley Beach South and deposited into the water near the shore. Wave action will then bring the sand onshore to build up the beach, and in some cases it may be put into the nearshore using a cutter suction dredge.

There is one area where sand will be dredged from:

  • located at North Haven (used in the 2024 trial).

There are two sand placement areas:

  • Henley Beach South placement area
  • West Beach placement area (used in the 2024 trial).

  • Dredging licence application approved

    DEW has been granted an EPA licence for dredging at North Haven, with sand placement at Henley Beach South and West Beach. On 17 September, the EPA licence (#52536) was transferred to the contractor undertaking the dredging works, Heron Construction Company Limited.

    The EPA received a licence application (ENL28KXAMPN) from DEW in May 2026 for dredging proposed as part of Phase II of DEW’s dredge trial to manage erosion and sand build-up along the Adelaide coast from West Beach to North Haven.

    The EPA undertook a detailed assessment of the licence application, including the Dredge Management Plan (DMP), Water Quality Monitoring Plan (WQMP), Seagrass Monitoring Plan (SMP), Noise Monitoring Plan (NMP), and Community and Stakeholder Engagement Plan submitted by DEW. Technical experts in compliance, marine science, and noise assessed these plans and the proposed management and monitoring measures to ensure that the controls applied would, as far as is reasonably practicable, minimise harm to the environment.

    The EPA also carefully considered submissions that were made in response to the licence application. The key themes raised in the submissions received are summarised below.

    Based on its assessment, and accounting for community and stakeholder submissions, the EPA granted a licence for the proposed dredging. The EPA required changes to the DMP and an updated DMP has been approved. The dredge contractor undertaking the works is required to implement the approved DMP.

    Community and stakeholder feedback

    The EPA thanks community members and stakeholders who took the time to provide feedback. The EPA received 79 submissions during the two-week feedback period from 10 to 24 July. A broad range of considerations were raised, with levels of both support and opposition expressed. The key themes raised included management of noise impacts, sand and sediment quality, potential impacts from the 2025–26 harmful algal bloom, assessment of seagrass habitats, turbidity impacts from double handling of dredged sand, availability of monitoring data, the need for improved community and stakeholder engagement by DEW, and EPA assessment of compliance.

    In line with the EP Act, the EPA forwarded a copy of all submissions to DEW and provided an opportunity for DEW to respond to submissions. DEW provided a response to all submissions received and these were further considered in the EPA’s assessment of the application.

    DEW has been granted an EPA licence for dredging at North Haven, with sand placement at Henley Beach South and West Beach. On 17 September, the EPA licence (#52536) was transferred to the contractor undertaking the dredging works, Heron Construction Company Limited.

    The EPA received a licence application (ENL28KXAMPN) from DEW in May 2026 for dredging proposed as part of Phase II of DEW’s dredge trial to manage erosion and sand build-up along the Adelaide coast from West Beach to North Haven.

    The EPA undertook a detailed assessment of the licence application, including the Dredge Management Plan (DMP), Water Quality Monitoring Plan (WQMP), Seagrass Monitoring Plan (SMP), Noise Monitoring Plan (NMP), and Community and Stakeholder Engagement Plan submitted by DEW. Technical experts in compliance, marine science, and noise assessed these plans and the proposed management and monitoring measures to ensure that the controls applied would, as far as is reasonably practicable, minimise harm to the environment.

    The EPA also carefully considered submissions that were made in response to the licence application. The key themes raised in the submissions received are summarised below.

    Based on its assessment, and accounting for community and stakeholder submissions, the EPA granted a licence for the proposed dredging. The EPA required changes to the DMP and an updated DMP has been approved. The dredge contractor undertaking the works is required to implement the approved DMP.

    Community and stakeholder feedback

    The EPA thanks community members and stakeholders who took the time to provide feedback. The EPA received 79 submissions during the two-week feedback period from 10 to 24 July. A broad range of considerations were raised, with levels of both support and opposition expressed. The key themes raised included management of noise impacts, sand and sediment quality, potential impacts from the 2025–26 harmful algal bloom, assessment of seagrass habitats, turbidity impacts from double handling of dredged sand, availability of monitoring data, the need for improved community and stakeholder engagement by DEW, and EPA assessment of compliance.

    In line with the EP Act, the EPA forwarded a copy of all submissions to DEW and provided an opportunity for DEW to respond to submissions. DEW provided a response to all submissions received and these were further considered in the EPA’s assessment of the application.

  • The EPA's role

    As South Australia’s independent environmental regulator, the EPA regulates activities impacting on the environment set out in the Environment Protection Act 1993 (EP Act). Dredging is a prescribed activity of environmental significance under the EP Act and the dredging aspects of the project are subject to regulatory approval, including EPA approval of the project’s management and monitoring plans.

    The EPA focuses on ensuring mitigation measures and controls are in place to prevent and/or minimise environmental harm. The EPA will regulate the Phase II trial through an authorisation in the form of a licence (EPA Licence #52536).

    Licences for dredging activities require a DMP, which must detail proposed measures to minimise adverse impacts from the dredging. The DMP for the Phase II dredge trial includes a WQMP, an SMP, and an NMP. These plans include strict controls, including turbidity triggers, to protect water quality, seagrass, and the environment.

    The EPA will monitor compliance with the approved DMP during dredging works and has required that seagrass and water quality monitoring is undertaken by suitably qualified experts before, during, and after the trial. This monitoring is important to understand any impact on water quality and seagrass and will inform management requirements for any long-term replenishment program along the Adelaide metropolitan coastline.

    As South Australia’s independent environmental regulator, the EPA regulates activities impacting on the environment set out in the Environment Protection Act 1993 (EP Act). Dredging is a prescribed activity of environmental significance under the EP Act and the dredging aspects of the project are subject to regulatory approval, including EPA approval of the project’s management and monitoring plans.

    The EPA focuses on ensuring mitigation measures and controls are in place to prevent and/or minimise environmental harm. The EPA will regulate the Phase II trial through an authorisation in the form of a licence (EPA Licence #52536).

    Licences for dredging activities require a DMP, which must detail proposed measures to minimise adverse impacts from the dredging. The DMP for the Phase II dredge trial includes a WQMP, an SMP, and an NMP. These plans include strict controls, including turbidity triggers, to protect water quality, seagrass, and the environment.

    The EPA will monitor compliance with the approved DMP during dredging works and has required that seagrass and water quality monitoring is undertaken by suitably qualified experts before, during, and after the trial. This monitoring is important to understand any impact on water quality and seagrass and will inform management requirements for any long-term replenishment program along the Adelaide metropolitan coastline.

  • Frequently Asked Questions

    Some frequently asked questions about the dredge trial include:

    Answers to these questions are available on our Frequently Asked Questions page.

    Some frequently asked questions about the dredge trial include:

    Answers to these questions are available on our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Page last updated: 18 Sep 2026, 09:23 AM