RARE Environmental was engaged by Bayside Council to excavate and relocate 200,000m³ of clean sand from Dolls Point to Ramsgate Baths.

The works involved land-based dredging from of the source material, interim transport with off road dump trucks and road based transport to the nourishment site.

Completion of the project was critical prior to the peak summer holiday period. RARE maintained access for several stakeholders around the project, including the sailing club, cafes and restaurants, and an extremely busy pedestrian walkway throughout the project. Additionally, sensitive nearby receptors included the sensitive Whites Seahorse release site.

RARE and Bayside Council collaborated to optimise the sand placement to reduce ongoing operation costs. We used a range of methods including bathymetric survey, drone survey and a new hydrographic drone boat.

These methods alongside other monitoring quantified sand volumes in the dynamic marine environment, ensuring both parties expectations were aligned, and the project objectives were achieved.

• Rigorous pedestrian management at truck – promenade interface
• Maintenance of environmental controls adjacent to seahorse colony
• Coordination of benthic and aerial survey
• Use of a range of plant and equipment to preserve access to pedestrians and beach users whilst completing the works efficiently
• Provision of useful benthic survey data of a broader area, both before and after the project to assist council in their ongoing management of erosion and sand deposits
• Improvement of access for residents