Coffs Harbour sand management

The temporary Gallows sand pipeline installation has been completed allowing sand to be pumped direct to the northern corner of Gallows Beach. 

The pipeline will be monitored, and the community will be kept informed on progress as the trial continues.

In August 2022, as Stage 1 of the boat ramp was nearing completion, sand began massing around the end of the newly extended breakwater and lodging in the boat ramp channel.

While this has been an ongoing issue in Coffs Harbour for decades, it became apparent that sand movement had changed. Sand from the sea and Jetty Beach continued to wash into the channel and build up throughout the passage leading to the boat ramp.

In January 2022, this prompted Transport for NSW to explore options to remediate the sand build up. Consequently, we engaged Royal Haskoning DHV, who are expert coastal engineers, to examine the sand build up in the channel.

Mid-term strategy

As at February 2023, we were in the planning stages of a sand pumping system trial. This type of dredging involves a series of pumps, buried underneath the sea floor and an interconnecting series of pipes that automatically suck up the sand, turn it into a slurry and transport it via the pipes, to a designated area.

For the purposes of the trial, the designated area will be the bunded area adjacent to the boat ramp.

The trial started in March 2023, is expected to operate for 12 months, and will inform decisions needed for our longer-term strategy.

Long-term strategy

Assuming the sand pumping system trial is a success, we will enter the planning phase for a permanent system to be installed.

The timeframe to start on this option is at least mid-2024, as we need to fully evaluate the trial before even proceeding to planning for a more permanent solution.

• Gallows Beach STS Minor Works REF with Appendices - November 2023 (PDF, 13.55 MB)
• Minor works REF addendum memo sand transfer pump - September 2023 (PDF, 883.45 KB)
• Coffs Harbour Dredging and Beach Nourishment MWREF - December 2022 (PDF, 14.41 MB)

• 15 March 2024 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 4.41 MB)
• 4 March 2024 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 3.66 MB)
• 19 October 2023 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 785.76 KB)

• 10 July 2023 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 761.2 KB)
• 5 July 2023 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 4.94 MB)
• 9 May 2023 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 7.26 MB)
• 4 April 2023 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 3.68 MB)
• 3 March 2023 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 6.75 MB)
• 9 January 2023 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 6.51 MB)
• 14 December 2022 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 4.08 MB)
• 1 December 2022 Hydrographic Survey (PDF, 8.1 MB)

• Sand management plan (PDF, 1.04 MB)