The project involves moving naturally accumulated sand from northern Leighton Beach, where sand has built up over time, back to the southern end of Port Beach, where ongoing coastal erosion has reduced beach width.
In total, 4,000 cubic metres of sand will be moved by truck along Curtin Avenue from the beach adjacent to the pedestrian overpass near McCabe Street to Pocket Beach and Sandtrax Beach.
The working hours are from 7am to 4pm Monday to Friday and the works are expected to be completed by Friday 13 November, subject to weather and site conditions.
Beachgoers will notice construction equipment operating on both beaches, temporary fencing and safety exclusion zones.
Traffic management is in place to assist with cyclist and pedestrian movements at crossing points.
Eighteen car bays at the southern end of the Leighton Beach carpark are inaccessible during the working hours, with the 30 car bays at the northern end still available throughout.
Background
Between 2021 and 2023, 150,000 cubic metres of dredged sand from Fremantle Ports Deepwater Channel was rainbowed onto Port Beach, along with dune creation and stabilisation works, as part of a major Sand Nourishment project.
Coastal monitoring since that project has revealed a net loss of sand from Port Beach to the north, with a significant storm in May this year further exacerbating the erosion damage at Port Beach.
The Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure recommended back passing of sand as the most cost effective and achievable solution for restoring the beach width at Port, with this activity recommended every 1 to 3 years.
Maintaining the beach condition is important for beach users as well as for protecting City infrastructure.
Fremantle Council’s long-term position on the ongoing erosion challenges is that of ‘managed retreat’ with the establishment of appropriate coastal setbacks to establish a sustainable coastal foreshore.
