CASE STUDY - WYE RIVER, VIC GEOCONTAINER SHORT TERM PORTECTION WORKS

Abstract

Between winter 2019 and 2021 riverine and coastal erosion collectively caused 14.8m of landward recession of the Wye River foreshore in Victoria. The resulting reduction in sand dune buffer from 25m to 10m in front of the Wye River Surf Life Saving Club (WRSLSC) significantly increased the buildings vulnerability to erosion. Sand nourishment was used as a ‘low impact and nature based’ first attempt management option however this proved ineffective due to the significance of the riverine erosion component. A shift in management approach to the emergency installation of a 0.75m3 geo-container seawall and three groynes had an immediate influence by diverting the river away from the WRSLSC and halting further erosion. A significant quantity of sand has been deposited within the groyne compartments in the 9 months following their installation.