TRIALS have begun of the long awaited Sand Transfer System on Jimmy’s Beach.

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The $4.1 million dollar project uses pumps to take sand from the Winda Woppa stockpile to renourish Jimmy’s which has been battling severe erosion problems for decades.

The three week testing period aims to pumps 10,000m3 onto the beach to provide a temporary buffer for the winter season.

“The testing of the Jimmy’s Beach Sand Transfer System has commenced with great results,” Andrew Staniland, MidCoast Council’s Coastal Management Coordinator, said.

The Council plans to use the system at least twice a year at a cost of $200,000 as opposed to previous trucking of sand onto the beach which required $600,000 worth of funding.

Outside of the two planned transfers of sand each year, it will take at least a month to get the system up and running in the case of an emergency.

And it’s still not clear who will operate the site after the initial testing period by Council.

While members of the Winda Woppa Association have welcomed the sand transfer system, Ken Garrard said, “The Myall is silting far too fast, so does it make sense to put it back on Jimmy’s Beach when it just ends up back in the Myall, there must be a better way.”

Andrew Staniland said, “This system is not designed to stop the erosion, however, it will continue to provide a temporary sand buffer along The Boulevard part of the Beach far more effectively than previous trucking campaigns.”

By: Margie TIERNEY