Hydrodynamics and Coastal Processes CHAPTER 15 Summary of key outcomes: Numerical modelling techniques have been used to assess potential changes to the wave climate, currents and stability of coastal sediment on a Bay-wide basis as a result of the proposed Port Botany Expansion. Wave climate studies examined swell waves, wind generated local sea waves and long waves. Swell waves and local sea waves are the primary wave types which affect sediment transport and shoreline stability in Botany Bay. The results of the wave modelling showed that beyond the northeastern embayment of Botany Bay (i.e. between the Parallel Runway and Molineux Point) wave climate in Botany Bay would be effectively unchanged as a result of the construction of the new terminal. There would be a minor reduction in sediment transport on Towra Beach, however, any changes would be imperceptible. There would also be a small change in wave direction, in the order of 1o at Silver Beach. However, this would be accommodated within the existing groynes hence there would be no identifiable impact. The results of the modelling also showed that currents in Botany Bay would be essentially unchanged as a result of the construction of the new terminal. Subsequent detailed modelling and analysis therefore focused on changes in wave climate in the northeastern embayment between the Parallel Runway and Molineux Point. Within the northeastern embayment, potential changes to swell wave energy, notably along the Parallel Runway, have been minimised by careful design of the dredge area and the new terminal. With the proposed dredging profile and rock embankment design for the new terminal, there would be no increase in swell wave energy on the eastern side of the Parallel Runway and local sea wave heights along the Parallel Runway would be reduced. A large reduction in wave energy would be expected at the existing mouth of Penrhyn Estuary due to the “blocking effect” of the new terminal. Construction of the new terminal would therefore significantly reduce erosion and transportation of sediment along the southeast portion of Foreshore Beach. There would continue to be westward sand transport along the remaining exposed section of Foreshore Beach. However, a groyne would be built as an extension to the Mill Stream training wall to trap this sediment and prevent it from blocking the Mill Stream waterway. Port Botany Expansion Environmental Impact Statement – Volume 1 Hydrodynamics and Coastal Processes CHAPTER 15 15 Hydrodynamics and Coastal Processes 15.1 Introduction The study of water movement, predominantly caused by tides and wind is termed “hydrodynamics”. Consideration of hydrodynamic issues is important when major development is proposed in estuarine or coastal settings, particularly as coastal developments may result in changes to wave climate which can impact areas remote from the development site. Botany Bay is a wide, shallow estuary exposed to winds from all directions and waves from the adjacent high energy coastal zone. Waves and currents determine the erosion, deposition, transportation and therefore, the ultimate fate of sediment in the Bay. Changes to the Bay hydrodynamic conditions can affect transportation of sediment around the Bay and hence impact on the stability of beaches and infrastructure. Previous developments, most notably in northern Botany Bay, have modified the foreshores and substantially changed the hydrodynamics of the Bay. This chapter describes the existing hydrodynamics and coastal processes in Botany Bay and assesses any impacts of the proposed Port Botany Expansion. It is based on investigations undertaken by Lawson and Treloar (2003) in a report titled Proposed Expansion of Container Port Facilities in Botany Bay, NSW – Coastal Processes and Water Resources Issues: Volume 3 Waves, Currents and Coastal Process Investigations. The results of the investigations are provided in Appendix H. 15.2 Existing Conditions and Processes The entrance to Botany Bay is about 1.1 km wide and is open to ocean swell from the east. Despite the exposure to waves and a small tidal range, tidal processes are the predominant influence of circulation and flushing in Botany Bay. Botany Bay is relatively shallow (mean water depth is about 5 m) and shoals westward from the dredged navigation channel at the entrance. The foreshores of Botany Bay include rocky headlands, sandy beaches and sheltered embayments. Numerous developments on the foreshore of Botany Bay have modified the hydrodynamics and shoreline of Botany Bay. The major riverine input to the Bay is from the Georges River in the southwest corner of the Bay. The smaller Cooks River discharges to the northwestern corner of the Bay, west of Sydney Airport. The fresh water flow from both rivers is normally small compared to the tidal flow. Developments such as the Caltex Oil Refinery, Parallel Runway and Port Botany have extensively modified Botany Bay. The Caltex Oil Refinery was established at Kurnell in 1953 and the approach channel and jetty berths were dredged and extended in several stages. Construction of Sydney Airport was completed in several stages and involved the relocation of the Cooks River and Alexandra Canal west of their original courses. The north-south runway of Sydney Airport was extended into Botany Bay in two stages (1964-66 and 1970-71) using sand dredged from Botany Bay southwest of the runway and from the entrance of the Bay. The Parallel Runway was constructed in 1994 from sand extracted from the Bay to the east of the runway. Port Botany was constructed between 1978 and 1982. As part of the construction, an armoured revetment wall extending south from Bumborah Point was built and dredging of a ship navigation channel from the entrance of the Bay to the port was undertaken. The construction of Sydney Airport and Botany Bay has created hard edged structures within the Bay. Port Botany Expansion Environmental Impact Statement – Volume 1 15-1 CHAPTER 15 Hydrodynamics and Coastal Processes Changes to Bay hydrodynamics have impacted on sediment transport and beach stability around the Bay. Consequently seawalls have been constructed on Lady Robinsons Beach, and Silver Beach and southern Lady Robinsons Beach have been stabilised by groynes. 15.2.1 Tides The tidal regime in Botany Bay is essentially the same as in Port Jackson with a mean tidal period of 12.4 hours. Generally two high tides and two low tides occur each day (semi-diurnal) and are almost simultaneous throughout the Bay. The tidal amplitude varies fortnightly on a high and low range tidal cycle (spring and neap tides, respectively) and the maximum and minimum heights of each successive tide vary significantly. The range of astronomical tides is approximately 2.1 m, mean high to mean low water spring tides is some 1.3 m and mean high to mean low water neaps is around 0.8 m. 15.2.2 Currents and Circulation Currents in Botany Bay are predominantly generated by tides, winds and river flow. Irregular, long period waves originating offshore (e.g. storm surges) are capable of generating currents. However, the current velocities are low (less than 2 cm/s in Port Botany) due to the low amplitude and long period. During low rainfall periods, currents in the Bay are dominated by tidal flow to and from the Georges River. Tidal currents that produce a periodic flow in and out of Botany Bay are generally low in velocity. The highest velocity tidal currents occur at the entrance to the Bay, at the mouth of the Georges River, near Molineux Point and around the southern edge of the Parallel Runway. Only minor alterations to the tidal current flow and direction have resulted from existing infrastructure as the major (east west) flow is south of the Parallel Runway (i.e. in the middle of the Bay). Maximum tidal velocities are likely to cause only local resuspension of the sandy sediment that predominates throughout the Bay. Tidal currents in the northeastern embayment of Botany Bay are generally low (less than 0.1 m/s) due to the confined nature of the northeastern embayment, but higher velocity flows occur near the Mill Stream. Wind blowing across a water body generates water currents by transference of momentum. Current velocities are dependent on strength, fetch and duration of wind. Botany Bay is exposed to winds over large stretches of open water (fetch) and wind driven currents assist in exchange and mixing of estuarine waters. Botany Bay is stratified immediately after heavy rainfall (greater than 50 mm per day) as turbid, buoyant freshwater plumes exit the estuary mouth (Kingsford 1994). The freshwater plumes are some 1-2 m thick and have little interaction with underlying saline waters. After the freshwater flow ceases, the surficial layer deepens due to wind mixing and the estuary reverts to low-flow conditions after a week of dry conditions. 15.2.3 Wave Climate Two principal wave types occur within Botany Bay, wind generated local sea waves and ocean waves (swell waves) generated offshore that pass through the entrance to Botany Bay. Three wave classifications, i.e. local sea, swell and long waves, have been considered throughout Botany Bay as part of this assessment. Waves generated by wind blowing over restricted areas of open water are referred to as local sea waves. Due to the open expanse of water in Botany Bay, waves can be generated by winds from all points of the compass. Local sea waves can be important in controlling circulation and near-shore resuspension and 15-2 Port Botany Expansion Environmental Impact Statement – Volume 1 Hydrodynamics and Coastal Processes CHAPTER 15 transportation of sediment. Water depth has little effect on the generation of local sea waves, but increases in water depth (e.g. from dredging) can change the shoaling of waves and sediment transportation patterns.