Answers to Questions

SAND CARTING

4 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (1 June 2010). For each year since 2002—

1. What is the total tonnage of sand carted to and from South Australian metropolitan beaches by the Department of Transport and local councils, and in each instance, how much sand was carted, where was the sand transferred to and from, who was the carter and what were the associated costs?

2. How much dredged sand was used by the Department and local councils to replenish these beaches and what were the associated costs?

3. How much land based sand was transported by the Department and local councils to replenish these beaches and what were the associated costs?

4. What was the Department's annual recurrent budget and expenditure to undertake sand-bypassing at the Glenelg and West Beach harbours?

5. What were the details and associated costs of each sand management project undertaken by the Department?

6. What was the actual or estimated cost of periodic sand carting from the harbour to the dunes at West Beach and the removal of sand from the northern end of Glenelg beach to south of the channel breakwater, respectively?

7. What was Transport SA's annual recurrent budget to maintain the harbours at Glenelg and West Beach in a safe navigable condition; and undertake sandbypassing works (to maintain longshore drift) at these sites?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for the River Murray, Minister for Water): I am advised that:

1. A total of 1,725,179 cubic metres of sand has been moved since the 2001-02 financial year at a total cost of $10,301,907.

The specific volumes, locations of sand sourced and deposited from the financial year 2001-02 to the most recent financial year are detailed in Table 1.

Table 1:

Since 1973, trucking contractors have carted sand on behalf of the Coast Protection Board (administered through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)) and not the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (DTEI) or local councils. Sand carting is generally undertaken by either PD Excavations Pty Ltd or AR Contracting Services Pty Ltd.

2. Sand dredged for harbour maintenance does not directly contribute to beach replenishment as it has been deposited offshore, but the sand does move onshore. The rate at which sand moves onshore is being evaluated by a DENR survey group.

In 2007, a small amount of dredged sand was placed onshore to monitor seagrass particulate plumes (not for beach replenishment). Sand, regardless of if it is on or offshore, contributes to protection by attenuating wave energy.

3. Sand introduced to the metropolitan beach system from land based (external) sources has come from Mount Compass (28,292 cubic metres), the former Magic Mountain site, Glenelg (26,250 cubic metres) and Price, Yorke Peninsula (6,367 cubic metres) at a cost of $1,271,865.

4. Annual recurrent budget and expenditure for sand-bypassing at Glenelg and West Beach harbours is contained in Table 2.

Table 2:

5. Sand management projects since 2002 include:

Sand carting—this has been the predominant method of beach replenishment for the last 30 years—refer figures provided in Table 1.

Introducing coarser sand to the beach system at a cost of $1,271,865. Coarser sand is more stable and less susceptible to littoral drift and storms.

Sand bypassing (dredging) and harbour management—DENR has taken over this responsibility, which was previously carried out by DTEI. In addition, harbour management is now integrated into the beach management strategy. The cost is listed in Table 2.

Sand pumping trial—trials were conducted in 2006—2007 to test the success of various sand collection and pumping devices—the budget and actual spending for this was $1.6 million.

6. Figures for sand carting from south of the West Beach harbour to north of the harbour and from south of the Glenelg breakwater to Glenelg North are shown in Table 3 below. Sand is not carted from Glenelg North to south of the breakwater.

Table 3:

7. As per the response to question 4, DTEI no longer maintains the harbours at Glenelg and West Beach but the budget was approximately $1.9 million per annum. DENR's annual recurrent budget to maintain these harbours is $1.3 million as a result of integrating harbour maintenance with beach management, including realignment of the navigation channel, thus reducing the volume of sand entering the harbours.