Stage 1 - Tumby Bay Foreshore Alignment Study

Tumby Bay Foreshore Alignment Study

The District Council of Tumby Bay is working with Magryn & Associates and Sproutt on a realignment study of the township foreshore to manage coastal erosion, preserve access and amenity, and plan for long-term resilience.

This project builds on the 2024 Coastal Adaptation Strategy (CAS), which assessed the risks of coastal erosion and inundation across the Tumby Bay foreshore. The results of the CAS identified a clear need for protection, and through multi-criteria assessment and cost analysis, and community consultation, a Rock Revetment Wall was selected as the preferred coastal protection approach.

The Seawall Realignment Options

Three realignment options are being proposed for your comment and feedback. These options have been designed based on the present-day coastal exposure and hazard posed to the beach and foreshore, as well as considering the changes to the beach into the future.

To understand the potential for future beach erosion under each of the realignment options, detailed beach profile modelling has been completed. This form of modelling considers the observed historical wave conditions experienced at Tumby Bay, and uses them to predict future conditions and impacts to the beach.

The seawall will be implemented along the entire foreshore of the Tumby Bay township, from the caravan park (matching into the existing rock revetment seawall) to Elanora Avenue.

We have shown four key locations within the township – caravan park, yacht club, café, and the hospital – with each of the seawall realignment options for visualisation. These posters also show the mean high water line in 2025 (blue) and 2050 (orange). These lines represent the average high water that you could expect once a day, and show the available, or accessible, beach width at high tide for the given year.

These posters are available below and at the Council office. Please note: the design of the seawall and foreshore shown on these posters may differ following Stage 2 of community engagement.

Community Engagement (Stage 1) – Online Survey

The community survey will help inform the next stage of design and ensure that community values are considered from the outset.

This survey is part of Stage 1 Community Engagement and focusses on determining the best alignment (location) for this revetment wall. A second round of engagement will follow once a preferred alignment is selected, where you’ll have the chance to provide input on the design details, such as materials, levee treatments, paths, stairs, and visual features.

Please refer to the Alignment Options Comparison poster provided to compare criteria (e.g., beach width, impact to foreshore, cost) between the three alignment options.

We appreciate your input and we look forward to working with you through future stages of this project.

Click here to complete the survey.

Survey closes on Tuesday 8 July 2025.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

On June 20 and 21 2025, members of Magryn and Sproutt visited Tumby Bay to engage with the community through in-person sessions with the aim of informing the community of the seawall alignment options being presented.

We noted common questions which are answered below.

• Is the wall going to be made of rock?

Yes, the coastal protection structure endorsed by the Council, following the results of the Coastal Adaptation Study, is a Rock Revetment Seawall. The look (colour, rock size) of the seawall may differ from the images shown on the posters, following Stage 2 engagement with the community.

• How many beach access points will there be? What’s going to happen to the bike path?

The detailed design of beach access points and the bike path are dependent on the alignment option chosen but will be incorporated into the final design of the seawall.

• When is the seawall being built? Will it be built in stages?

The implementation of the seawall is included in the Council’s long-term plan (subject to funding) with the first segment of seawall projected to be built at the start of the 2028/2029 Financial Year. The seawall will be implemented in stages, starting with areas of high priority that are currently experiencing high rates of erosion or are at high risk of flooding.

• What is the concrete wall at the back of the seawall?

This concrete wall is part of the flood protection design of the seawall to prevent water moving through the rocks and flooding areas behind. The design (look/colour/implementation) is dependent on the realignment option chosen, and may differ from the conceptual images provided in the posters.

• Can I choose a different preferred alignment option at each of the four key sites?

Yes, you may select a different preferred alignment option at each of the four key sites presented on the posters. It is important that the alignment of the seawall along the entire foreshore remains smooth, with no areas jutting further seaward or landward than others, ensuring processes of sediment transport are not negatively impacted. However, we will endeavour to address the community’s alignment preferences in different areas of the foreshore in the final realignment design.