Estimated sand transport

Sand flows northwards along the northern NSW coast at a rate estimated to be in the order of 500,000 m³ per year. This is due to a natural coastal process called longshore drift and the amount is estimated to vary from 250,000 m³ to 1,000,000 m³ each year depending on the wave conditions. An example of the typical sediment transport pathways are shows in the image below. Further information is available on the Coastal Processes page. Monthly estimates are calculated by the TSB team using a simplified sand transport model.

Charts showing the monthly sand transport estimates over the 2020 calendar year can be found in the link below:

Estimated Monthly Transport - 2020

Data from previous years can be viewed in the archive.