STOP THE DAM
Kings Beach – Let the salt be 🌊
The Proposal
This page is a summary of what Dam Kings Beach are proposing. We have tried to keep it fair and just say what is in their document. You can read the whole thing yourself on their website damkingsbeach.org.
What is it?
Dam Kings Beach Inc. (with the support of Cham's Small Meats & Preservatives) want to build what they call a "coastal containment structure" at Kings Beach. Their document is called the Kings Beach Salt Runoff Containment Proposal, Version 1.2.
Their reason is that salt from the sand at Kings is going into the ocean with every tide, when it rains, and from people walking on the beach. In their words:
"At present there is no barrier of any kind between the sand at Kings Beach and the ocean."
They estimate it is about 800 to 850 tonnes of salt per year. Their document does say this figure "is an estimate and has not yet been independently verified."
What would be built
- A reinforced concrete wall running the length of Kings Beach, between the dry sand and the water
- About 6 metres high above the sand, with deeper footings underneath "to prevent salt migrating beneath the structure"
- Drainage channels and overflow gates on the beach side to hold the water during heavy rain
- A salinity monitoring station on the wall (they say the data will be public)
- Two "designated coastal access points" with stairs and handrails
- Native landscaping at the bottom of the wall and signs explaining the salt program
Cost: $47.2 million (including 10 years of monitoring and maintenance). They say it would last more than 50 years. They are going to ask the NSW and Federal Governments for funding as well as private sector partners.
About the salt that builds up behind the wall, the document says "Options for its long-term storage and removal are still being assessed".
The pictures 📷
These are the "artist's impressions" released with the proposal. They say these are "indicative only".
From above, looking south. The wall goes the whole way along.
The view from the sand. Note the sign.
One of the two "designated access points"
Their next steps
According to the document they plan to commission a baseline salt study, ask the NSW Government for an environmental impact assessment, keep collecting signatures on their petition to NSW Parliament, hold community information sessions and progress the concept design.
We would like to know when the information sessions are. We haven't seen any yet.