Outrage at beach sand removal

The Port Geographe Action Group says sand extraction works by the City of Busselton this week could “totally undermine” the State Government’s $28 million groyne reconfiguration at the development.

The City of Busselton confirmed officers removed about 800 cubic metres of sand from the western beach near Guerin Street on Tuesday.

The sand was used to supplement the beach around the Scout Road jetty.

Port Geographe Action Group chairman Peter Maccora said the move was hard to understand as the City was fully aware of the critical need for the western beach to be fully saturated with sand at the completion of the works.

“The residents are outraged. We’ve had to put up with a lot with Port Geographe beaches and we thought it was over,” he said.

"(The City) just panicked over the erosion at the beachfront and thought to take the sand from somewhere else.”

Mr Maccora said the move could result in trapped seagrass after the reconfiguration process and questioned whether the City of Busselton would have to take financial responsibility.

He called for the Department of Transport to address the sand removal “as a matter of urgency.”

Engineering and works services director Oliver Darby defended the move, saying it was the most economical way to replenish the beach around the Scout Road jetty.

Mr Darby said the sand at the western beach was swept down by recent storms and officers simply moved it back to its original location.

“It should be noted that around 80,000 cubic meters of sand is accreted on beach area west of the Port Geographe Groyne system each year,” he said.

“With regard to these recent works, we’re talking about a very small amount of sand being relocated.”

Mr Darby said the works did not require approval by the Environmental Protection Authority.

Mr Maccora said this contradicted the City’s previous advice when the issue of sand extraction was raised as an option to replenish Wonnerup beach.

“We have been previously informed by the City of Busselton, The Department of Transport and the EPA that any extraction of sand requires approval by the EPA … I find it very difficult to understand why this is now not the case,” he said.

The EPA and Department of Transport were contacted for comment.