Abstract
-
This project aims to produce a framework for assessing compartment dynamics
within two sediment compartments in the Illawarra region to assist in assessing
coastal hazards. Sediment sources, pathways and sinks will be examined for the
Wollongong and Illawarra Coast – South compartments, defined by Geoscience
Australia and CoastAdapt. A compartment based approach allows for more
holistic coastal planning and management which considers sediment transport at
differing scales, and interconnectivity of beaches. This type of approach
underpins national guidance on open coast risk assessment and has been
incorporated within the NSW Coastal Reforms and the Draft Coastal
Management Manual.
The adjacent sectors of the Wollongong Coast and Illawarra Coast-South
compartments extend for approximately 30 km from Bellambi Point to Bass Point.
The rock platform of Red Point marks the shoreline division between these two
contrasting compartments. The Wollongong Coast is an urbanized relatively little
studied leaky compartment, whereas the Illawarra Coast-South is a well-defined
and confined compartment whose main sedimentary characteristics are
represented by the infilling of the Lake Illawarra barrier estuary and the erosionprone
Warilla Beach.
This detailed examination of sediment resources brings together the state-wide
coastal seabed mapping program being undertaken by the NSW Office of
Environment and Heritage (OEH), and coastal geomorphological investigations
being undertaken along the southern NSW coast by the University of Wollongong
(UOW). These initiatives involve collation of historical data, sediment sampling,
and the use of recently available sophisticated remote sensing technologies,
such as terrestrial airborne LiDAR, single and multibeam bathymetry, sidescan
sonar imagery, and underwater video and still camera.