At Lady Robinson Beach, humans have caused many changes to both the biophysical and built environment. The interference in the natural processes of the area has caused an increase to the speed of erosion, the urban growth of the area and the amount of pollution on the beach.
The speed of erosion around the Lady Robinson Beach area has been greatly impacted by human interference. The development of Sydney Airport and Port Botany involved the dredging of sand and silt from the sea floor. Changes in wave patterns, longshore drift and sand, sediments transportation and wave direction were the result of waves reflecting off the airport’s parallel runways and the breakwater and seawalls at Port Botany.
Without the development of the port and runway, the currents would have moved more towards the north-west of the bay, directing towards the mouth of the Cooks River.
The speed of erosion around the Lady Robinson Beach area has been greatly impacted by human interference. The development of Sydney Airport and Port Botany involved the dredging of sand and silt from the sea floor. Changes in wave patterns, longshore drift and sand, sediments transportation and wave direction were the result of waves reflecting off the airport’s parallel runways and the breakwater and seawalls at Port Botany.
Without the development of the port and runway, the currents would have moved more towards the north-west of the bay, directing towards the mouth of the Cooks River.
Another factor causing an increased speed of erosion on Lady Robinson Beach is the storm water drains that run directly onto the sand. After a storm, a large amount of water flows onto the beach, washing away the sand.
The urban growth of the Lady Robinson Beach foreshore area is also a human induced change. Some of the main sand dunes of the beach have been cleared away to allow for developments on the foreshore such as main roads, housing and businesses. The beach's close proximity to the airport also increases tourism pressures and this has meant that more large hotels and apartment blocks are being built.
Another human impact on Lady Robinson Beach is the pollution caused by urban waste and runoff. As more and more infrastructure is built along the foreshore, an increasing amount of waste from building sites and industry can run onto the beach and into the water.
The urban growth of the Lady Robinson Beach foreshore area is also a human induced change. Some of the main sand dunes of the beach have been cleared away to allow for developments on the foreshore such as main roads, housing and businesses. The beach's close proximity to the airport also increases tourism pressures and this has meant that more large hotels and apartment blocks are being built.
Another human impact on Lady Robinson Beach is the pollution caused by urban waste and runoff. As more and more infrastructure is built along the foreshore, an increasing amount of waste from building sites and industry can run onto the beach and into the water.
One of the areas of greatest change in shoreline is the northern end of the beach where the Cooks River enters Botany Bay. These images from Rockdale City Council show the shoreline in 1943 and in 1977. The most obvious change in the photo below is the introduction of the runway and the change to the mouth of the river at the top of the image.