Short-term dune works at Bar Beach as long-term coastal plan progresses

newy.com.au – City of Newcastle will carry out short-term dune remediation work at Bar Beach from Monday to stabilise eroding sand dunes following recent storm damage.

The intervention is designed to reduce immediate risks to public safety and nearby infrastructure while longer-term management options for the coastline between Bar Beach and Merewether are developed under the Southern Beaches Coastal Management Program (CMP).

City of Newcastle will use heavy machinery to scrape sand from the lower section of the beach and deposit it closer to land, supporting and speeding up the natural process of sand building back into the dunes. The work is expected to take five days and has been planned to minimise disruption for residents, nearby businesses and surf lifesaving club activities.

Executive Manager Environment and Sustainability Marnie Kikken said sand scraping was an interim response to an ongoing coastal hazard.

“The current erosion south of Cooks Hill Surf Life Saving Club is approximately 100 metres in length, with an erosion width varying from 5–10 metres,” Ms Kikken said.

She said the reshaped dunes were intended to act as a buffer against further wave impacts while more permanent measures are considered. “The short-term remediation will build a protective buffer to help reduce the immediate risks to public safety and infrastructure and reduce the risk of further erosion,” Ms Kikken said. “However, the work is subject to natural processes and could be seriously impacted by a single severe storm event.”

A section of the Dixon Park Beach carpark will be used as a site compound for machinery and other equipment, with a temporary ramp to be constructed to allow vehicles to access the sand. The operation of heavy equipment along Dixon Park Beach and Bar Beach will take place during normal business hours.

City of Newcastle said there would be intermittent disruptions and pedestrian diversions along Bathers Way to allow machinery to move through the area, along with temporary closures of sections of Bar Beach for public safety.

Existing fencing and exclusion zones will remain in place along Bathers Way due to the unstable dune. Council’s coastal engineers are carrying out regular inspections and stability assessments of the cliff and promenade as conditions change.

The short-term works come as planning for a more permanent solution along this stretch of coast advances, following a month-long education campaign and an eight-week community engagement program on the Southern Beaches CMP.

City of Newcastle reported that more than 800 people took part in pop-up information sessions across the city, while almost 1,400 contributions were made through an online survey and poll on potential management options for the Bar Beach to Merewether coastline.

Feedback from the consultation will help shape the draft Southern Beaches CMP, which City of Newcastle expects to place on public exhibition in 2026.