Our Coastal Future - Port Beach

Port Beach sand nourishment project about to start

The second phase of combating coastal erosion by depositing thousands of cubic metres of sand at Port Beach is underway.

So far, more than 23 dredge loads have been 'rainbowed' into shore, which equates to around 20,000m³ of sand. Works are planned to continue at the end of July for a further week, before the remaining, of up to 120,000m³ to be placed during 2023. Environmental monitoring of the current works is ongoing and no issues have been reported to date.

Sand will be dredged from the Fremantle Port’s Deep Water Channel and ‘rainbowed’ onto the beach. As shown in the image below, rainbowing involves the pumping of a mixture of dredged sand and water through a hose with a nozzle, into a high arc through the air and onto the nearshore area. 

Image from Port Beach "Rainbowing".  

What to expect

• There will be some localised impact to beach use during the works. For safety reasons, access to certain areas of the beach, including Sandtrax beach, will be restricted during the works.
• Water depths and wave conditions will be modified and hence the surf may be unpredictable.
• It’s likely that as ‘wet’ sand is deposited, odour may be generated. This is expected to dissipate relatively quickly.
• Sand placed on the beach may first appear darker than the existing beach, but this is expected to fade over time.
• Dredging and nourishment works will be planned around periods of high tide, so there will likely be some works occurring at night.
• The dredging and rainbowing works are not expected to impact access to facilities such as parking, change rooms, the Surf Life Saving Facility and commercial food and beverage outlets.

To receive regular project updates, we encourage you to join our mailing list or refer to our Project Updates below.

For more background information on coastal erosion at Port Beach or for more details on the sand nourishment via dredge project, please refer to our FAQs.

An evolving coastline...

This area has undergone substantial changes since the late 1800s with significant impacts from urban development altering the coastline. Port Beach is essentially an artificial beach that was shaped by the early construction work associated with the Fremantle Harbour and Fremantle Port.

The area has continued evolving over the decades, including the more recent Rous Head extension and realignment of Port Beach Road. Various historical uses and developments have resulted in hard infrastructure surrounding Port Beach.

Port Beach is one of Fremantle’s popular beaches, accessed by locals and visitors year round. To browse the history of Port Beach and how it has changed over time, browse the slideshow below.

Historical data confirms that coastal processes such as wind, currents and waves, as well as sea level rise, have contributed to erosion at Port Beach over the last 23 years. The most recent event in 2018 caused significant damage with the receding shoreline compromising the Port Beach car park.

All coastal local governments are required by state planning policy to identify potential coastal hazards and plan for risk management and adaptation. The City of Fremantle coastal hazard assessment carried out in 2016 and 2017 identified the Port Beach area, including Sandtrax Beach, is highly vulnerable to immediate and future coastal erosion. You can find out more in the Port, Leighton and Mosman Beaches Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan (CHRMAP).