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Restricted Burning Times for the NORTHEAST SECTOR

The City of Albany provides notice that it has varied and extended the Restricted Burning Time for the Northeast Sector up to and including: Thursday 28 May 2026.

Emu Beach Coastal Adaptation and Protection (CAP) Works

Objective

Coastal dunes from Middleton to Emu Beach provide both natural coastal defence against erosion and an environmental habitat. Short term work (sand nourishment or beach scraping) is an opportunity to rapidly improve beach amenity and the erosion buffers at Emu Beach whilst longer term solutions continue to be considered by the City.

Scope

To replace material that erodes from the dunes at Emu Beach each year. Waves, tides and storms erode the dunes and transport the eroded sand westwards along the beach. Eroded material is recovered seasonally from a wide area of the beach, generally below high tide, and transported back to the eroded area.

  • The longer-term erosion rates have been around 3,000 cum/yr in this general area.
  • In the order of 4,500cum was placed in the dunes pre-winter sand nourishment based on Contractors estimates. Emu Beach is the primary focus with approximately 3,000m3 placed. 1,500m3 approximately was placed on Emu Beach North. 
  • The spring nourishment design will aim to provide a similar buffer, focusing on placing sand across the beach profile, which will be feasible during low tides.

Benefits

  • Rapid implementation and flexibility (with timing, volumes and cost)
  • Manage erosion at its current location and mitigate downdrift impacts
  • Built in resilience to coastal storm events
  • Guided by science – tracked using high resolution surveys
  • Improved beach amenity

Sand Nourishment May 2026

Sand Nourishment works were undertaken in May at two locations: 

  • Emu Beach, near the corner of Firth Street and Boongarrie Street
  • Emu Beach detached breakwater area, near the corner of Cunningham Street and Boongarrie Street

These works aimed to improve beach amenity and resilience to storm events. The works were undertaken by the City of Albany in partnership with the Department of Transport WA and were funded under the Coastal Adaptation and Protection (CAP) Grant 2025. To ensure public safety, a section of beach beyond Griffith Street was closed while works were undertaken. The dual-use path from Middleton Beach to Emu Point remained open.

Project Sponsors

City of Albany, Department of Transport WA (Coastal Adaptation and Protection (CAP) Grant 2025).

Pre sand nourishment works 

Emu Beach - Pre sand nourishment. May 2026. 

Emu Beach North - Pre sand nourishment. May 2026. 

Sand nourishment works in progress

Emu Beach - Sand nourishment in progress. May 2026. 

Post sand nourishment works 

Emu Beach - Post sand nourishment. May 2026. 

Emu Beach North - Post sand nourishment. May 2026. 

© 2026 City of Albany