COASTAL DEFENCE STRUCTURES IN NSW, AUSTRALIA

Abstract

This paper uses the examples of Coffs Harbour breakwaters and the training wall head on the Richmond River at Ballina to outline some of the developments in coastal engineering design and construction over the last century. Most of the 63 major structures along the New South Wales (NSW) coastline are similar. Recent developments in data collection and analysis as well as the evolution of physical modelling techniques used for coastal structure design at the NSW Department of Public Works and Services' Manly Hydraulics Laboratory (MHL) are discussed using these two projects. The use of computational models in conjunction with physical models and the introduction of new variables such as wave obliquity and groupiness into breakwater design are discussed. The need to evaluate the performance of artificial units such as Accropodes, concrete cubes and Hanbars for primary armour at breakwater heads due to restrictions on the availability of quarry armour and available construction techniques is briefly addressed.