GEOTEXTILE sand "pillows" will be stacked along a 130-metre stretch of Sandringham Bay foreshore to counter severe sand erosion that threatens to undermine luxury homes.
The homes, in the gated community on the former Mick Moylan's hotel site, were "only 10 to 15 metres" from the foreshore, Rockdale Council said in its funding application to the state government.
Environment Minister Robyn Parker announced a $150,000 grant to the council this week under the state government's coastal management program.
Rockdale MP John Flowers said the council would match funding for the project, which would include rebuilding a boulder retaining wall and installing sand "pillows"— a scientifically developed version of the traditional sandbag.
The council's funding application said coastal storms in May 2007 and June 2012, combined with high tides in December 2012 and January 2013, had caused severe beach erosion in Sandringham Bay, south of Ida Street.
"This erosion has undermined the existing concrete sea wall and steps leading into Sandringham Baths, caused the collapse of sections of the existing sandstone boulder embankment south of Lena Street and the failure of the dunal embankment alongside the Sandringham housing estate," the application said.
"Continued failure of this embankment will lead to the loss of two 100-year-old pine trees, the collapse of the adjacent regional cycleway and the undermining of existing residential houses, located only 10-15 metres west of the foreshores."
The council said a coastal consultant had proposed the installation of a series of sand pillows over a 130-metre area south of Lena Street.
A 20-metre length of the sandstone boulder revetment (retaining wall) would also be restored near the pine trees.
"Further, to address the undermining of the concrete sea wall at Sandringham Baths, sand pillows will be supplied and placed along a 31-metre section of the stepped sea wall," the council said.
BIG BATTLE
Rockdale Council has been battling foreshore erosion since the 1960s, when the first airport runway into Botany Bay was built.
Eight groynes were installed along Lady Robinsons beach in 1997.
Rockdale Council said the groynes, together with beach nourishment works over the past 15 years, had generally increased beach width.
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