Year 10 Monday 28/2: Summarising the TRESB Project

Write a blog post (including images) which details (a paragraph for each point):

1. The problem which lead to the TRESB Project.

During the 1950s the entrance to the Tweed River, which is at the southern end of the Gold Coast, became a hazard to shipping because of sandbars that were forming across the river mouth.

The easy solution to this problem was to construct breakwaters to stabilise the river entrance and help keep it clear of sand. While these breakwaters initially fixed the problem for shipping, between 1962 and 1965 they had to be extended again due to further sand build-up. At that time the long-term effects on longshore drift and the supply of sand to beaches north of the Tweed River were not considered.

2. The solution to the problem.

The Tweed River Entrance Sand Bypassing Project (TRESBP) provides an example of how people can implement coastal management schemes that re-create the natural processes operating along the coast. The project also involved the cooperation of state and local governments in responding to the community’s concerns and opinions. To date it is one of the most successful coastal management strategies implemented in Australia.  The project aims to replicate the natural process of longshore drift. Sand is pumped from where it accumulates on the southern side of the Tweed River, via a system of pipes, across the Tweed River to one of four outlets where sand is released onto the beach.
3. The result of the project. What areas were effected and how? Do you think that it was a success?
The mouth of the tweed river now has to be constantly maintained so this costs the government a lot of money. But the sand moved is given to the goldcoast which is good for that area. So there are bad points and good points, but I would say it is a success because the river mouth is now safe for ships which is what they aimed to do.