History In the 1800s Adelaides metropolitan beaches were comprised of sand dunes 200mm-300mm wide. Not long after, sand started to drift due to the loss of vegetation along the shoreline because of house development, animal stocks and mining. Then in the 1900s more houses and buildings were constructed close to the beach and on sand dunes at Semaphore, Grange, Henley and Glenelg. Adelaides coastline experiences a south-westerly wind blowing across the gulf, results in sand drifting north this drift is called the Littoral Drift. It has only been since residential development effected the sand dunes during the 1940s that Littoral Drift has become a serious concern. The development along the beaches has ‘locked up’ and removed sand which would have replenished the beaches and leading to more erosion. Major coastal storms along the coast (April 1948, May 1953) caused extensive damage to properties along the beach which initiated the construction of breakwaters. The breakwaters used were solid vertical concrete walls which reflect the waves. Since 1950, one third of the sea grass meadows along the metropolitan coast have died. This has caused an increase in wave energy hitting the beaches. as less sand is trapped by the sea grass. For the last 30 years, Adelaide beaches have been managed and maintained. Protection from erosion was firstly achieved by sand replenishment by trucking in sand. Sand replenishment is done by removing sand at on location and depositing it at another. This method has affected beach users and local home owners and bussiness as large trucks and equipment are used, these produce noise and pollution as well as disturbing the order of the beach.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 06:59:51 +0000
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