Study on Sediment Dynamics in Batemans Bay based on modelling and observations

Celebrating a new National Industry PhD Program partnership that’s set to shift the landscape of coastal research.

This partnership brings together the world class regional sustainability and coastal management capabilities of Eurobodalla Shire Council and the oceanography and coastal modelling expertise of the UNSW to explore real-time monitoring and advanced numerical modelling solutions for sustainable dredging and shoreline resilience at Surfside Beach, Batemans Bay.

The project, "Study on Sediment Dynamics in Batemans Bay based on modelling and observations" will integrate real-time turbidity, current and wave observations with a coupled FVCOM–XBeach framework to simulate hydrodynamics, sediment transport and beach morphological change under a range of environmental and dredging scenarios. The goal is to improve sediment transport forecasting, support environmentally responsible dredging and beach nourishment operations, enhance shoreline resilience and inform long-term coastal planning in Batemans Bay.

The research will be conducted by PhD candidate Mr Yaocheng Deng with academic support from Professor Xiao Hua Wang from the School of Science, UNSW Canberra, and the industry mentorship of Ms Heidi Thomson and Mr James Caffery from Eurobodalla Shire Council. Congratulations to all involved!