City of Joondalup spends $200,000 shifting sand from Sorrento Beach to Hillarys Beach to protect coastline

The City of Joondalup will next week start shifting up to 850 truckloads of beach sand from one side of Hillarys Boat Harbour to the other.

Sand accumulating on Sorrento Beach will be shifted to the north side of the harbour to manage ongoing erosion at Hillarys Beach in a seven-week project costing about $200,000.

The works, which have been undertaken annually since 2018, involve the extraction of about 10,000m3 of sand from Sorrento by Miraplex Group on behalf of the city.

The program addresses changes to the coast associated with the construction of the Hillarys harbour and forms part of the city’s long-term coastal management strategy.

Joondalup mayor Daniel Kingston said the “annual sand bypass program” played an important role in maintaining the health and resilience of the city’s coastline.

“Joondalup’s coastline is one of our most valued natural assets and it’s important that we continue to take a proactive approach to managing coastal change,” he said.

“This annual sand bypass helps restore sand to areas affected by erosion while supporting the long-term sustainability of our beaches for residents and visitors to enjoy.

“We will make every effort to minimise disruption to nearby residents and beachgoers throughout the project.”

The project is jointly funded by the Federal Government through the disaster ready fund and aligns with the city’s coastal monitoring program.

Works are scheduled to start on October 12 and run weekdays 7am to 5pm for seven weeks.

Sections of Sorrento and Hillarys beaches will be closed for safety reasons during the works.

Signs will be installed to inform beach users of any closures and operational activities.

Local residents and the wider community who are seeking further information can call the city on 9400 4000 or email [email protected].