Prior to 2011 Elwood beach was eroding at 0.7m/year, which has now been reduced to close to zero erosion after being renourished and having a rock groyne installed. Success can likely be attributed to the combination of the groyne and the coarse and heavier quarry sand used, which does not erode as fast as the fine sand found in the same sediment compartment as the beach. The sand renourishment cost the state government around $2m and $1m for the construction of the rock groyne.
Beach renourishment
Method: Artificially nourished
Sand source: Quarry
Sand volume (m2): 57,000
Sand placement: Visible beach
Frequency of renourishment: No new nourishment needed
Date of first renourishment: 1983
Date of last renourishment: 2014
Approach
Beach renourishment
Geographic context
Bay
Organisation responsible
Victorian Department of Land, Water and Planning
Primary objective
Restoration/maintenance of recreational area
Coastal hazard
Erosion
Asset vulnerable
Recreational, Built
Length of coastline targeted (m)
400
Area of project (ha)
1.4
Date of completion
2011
Cost ($AUD)
$3 million
Source of project funding
State government
Project approvals needed
State