A natural cycle

Tweed Sand Bypass Project studies show that sand bypassing operations have had no impact on Fingal beach conditions. Beach conditions change as part of the natural cycle of coastal erosion and beach rebuilding, as well as variations in the amount of sand moving northward around Fingal headland from Kingscliff Beach.

The erosion that has recently been observed at Fingal Beach is part of a natural cycle of behavior that has been occurring since before the sand bypassing begun in March 2001.

The aerial photos below illustrate this cycle of erosion/sand build up.

Aerial photos of Fingal Beach

Historical conditions

12 October 1962                  8 June 1988                    26 May 1997

Commencement of sand pumping operations

7 April 1999                       28 May 2001                    19 April 2002

During 4th to 5th year of sand pumping operations

5 March 2005                    19 April 2006                   14 October 2006

During 6th to 8th year of sand pumping operations

13 March 2008                  16 April 2009                 11 October 2009

During 9th to 11th year of sand pumping operations

5 April 2010                     13 April 2011                    22 October 2012

During 12th year of sand pumping operations

17 April 2013