Residents of Surfside, a small coastal community in New South Wales, are cautiously optimistic about a plan to dump thousands of tons of sand offshore in an effort to restore their eroding beach. The area has faced significant erosion, particularly after severe storms in April that damaged several properties.

Currently, a major dredging operation is taking place at the nearby Clyde River. This project aims to clear the river channel for boat navigation while also depositing sand approximately 600 meters offshore from Surfside Beach. The hope is that ocean currents and waves will carry the sand back onto the beach.

Craig Lyttle, a local resident affected by the flooding, has observed the worsening erosion at Surfside Beach over the years. He expressed hope that the dredging operation would provide some relief, stating, "The people who have lived here long-term have been fighting for something to be done along Surfside Beach for well over 15 years. We had about 20 meters of land out the back to the dune on the beach, and that's been eroded back to about six meters."

The dredging operation, led by Transport for New South Wales, is expected to last about four weeks and will involve the placement of around 30,000 cubic meters of sand. A similar project was conducted in 2019, but this current effort includes collaboration with the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Professor Xiao Hua Wang, a lead researcher in estuarine and coastal oceanography, noted, "We have given them (TFNSW) an estimate of how much sand transport occurs after they dump their materials in certain locations. We have also been able to tell them where they should dump the sand and what the best oceanic conditions are to dump the sand at these locations."

Despite the scientific backing, some residents remain skeptical about the effectiveness of this approach. Lyttle voiced concerns, saying, "We think that the sand will just migrate its way up the Clyde River and probably end up choking the mouth of the Clyde. But we are yet to see who is right and hopefully the professor is correct."

Questions have arisen regarding why the sand cannot be placed directly onto the beach. Transport for NSW explained that logistical challenges and costs made this option impractical. Kim Bowra from Transport for NSW stated, "In this case, in terms of the cost and the practicalities and getting that sand there, it was proving to be very difficult and very expensive. Common practice with dredging disposing of material is placing it in the near-shore."

In addition to the dredging, the Eurobodalla Shire Council has initiated a beach-scraping project to help rebuild the dune. This process involves using bulldozers to move sand from the intertidal area back up to the dune. Heidi Thomson, the council's natural resources coordinator, acknowledged the temporary nature of this solution, saying, "We realize it is not a permanent solution."

To further aid in stabilizing the beach, volunteers planted 3,000 native coastal species over the weekend. Professor Wang plans to study sand movements to better understand the causes of the significant erosion at Surfside Beach, noting, "Our study shows that beach erosion in the eastern section of Surfside appears to have been accelerated in the last five to six years. It's only a recent phenomenon."