Offshore Dredging for Beach Nourishment; Shoal Bay, N.S.W.

Sand dredging to improve navigation depths and the use of the dredged sand for beach replenishment at Shoal Bay in Port Stephens on the New South Wales mid north coast was undertaken in late 1994. A detailed review of the Environmental Impacts of dredging, placement design and contract documentation were undertaken by WP Geomarine. 33,000 cubic metres of clean, coarse sand were required to be dredged from the high sand shoals in the entrance to Port Stephens and used to replenish the beach. The dredging and placement were undertaken by contract and supervised by Port Stephens Council. Detailed monitoring of the offshore dredge site and the beach area is being undertaken using precision survey and analysis techniques developed by the NSW Public Works to determine the performance of the project. Initial results show a high precision in tracking the nourishment material which should facilitate future planning of beach management at this and other locations.