A second sand scraping trial will be conducted on Old Bar Beach from Monday, May 27, designed to provide a temporary erosion control measure on the beach.
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MidCoast Council says the trial involves using earth moving equipment for about 10 days, to place a sand buffer along a section of the beach from just south of the surf club (in line with Kolang Street) to the northern point of the Old Bar Caravan Park.
"This location is the same section of Old Bar Beach where the first trial was conducted last November," council's coastal management coordinator, Andrew Staniland said.
It's important to understand that the sand buffer is designed to be eroded by the ocean, protecting the existing coastline on a temporary basis
- MidCoast Council's Andrew Staniland
"These trial works replicate and build on the successful first trial, and others that have been conducted elsewhere along the NSW coastline."
Sand scraping is an interim coastal management option that works by physically shifting sand from the intertidal zone (between high and low tide) and placing it against the upper beach area. The trial works are designed to add to the existing sand buffer, and act as a short term solution.
"It's important to understand that the sand buffer is designed to be eroded by the ocean, protecting the existing coastline on a temporary basis," Andrew said.
While pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the works, sections of the beach and beach access points will be closed during the operation of machinery to ensure public safety. "We ask for cooperation from beach users in following the directions of staff and signage on site to keep the beach safe during these works," Andrew said.
Council is partnering with universities to monitor the site and further assess this management option for the area. Andrew said the result of the trial will be considered when designing future solutions for the long term coastal management of the Old Bar area.
"At the conclusion of this trial, we will report back to our community on the effectiveness of the trial - there are no certainties that the trial will be extended or continued at this stage," said Andrew.
The works are jointly funded by MidCoast Council and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.
More information about MidCoast Council's coastal management program is available on its website at www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/coastal.
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