Simple sand is one of the most important materials needed to support human civilization and economic development. Sand is the second-most-used natural resource globally, after water. Marine sands are emerging as a more environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional land- and river-sourced sands
Boskalis Australia is seeking to assist the global transition to a more ecologically sustainable way of meeting the world’s demand for sand, by bringing its wealth of global marine expertise and experience to bear.
Boskalis Australia is assessing the feasibility of developing a marine sand-sourcing operation in Cambridge Gulf, near Wyndham in the northeast of Western Australia. The sand in Cambridge Gulf is derived from natural land-based sources via river inputs. The sand would be exported to Asian markets for use in construction projects, with ~$550 million in benefits to the local and Western Australian economy.
The proposal does not involve any marine- or land-based infrastructure or alteration of the coastline. The proposed operation will involve a single Sand Production Vessel (SPV) based generally on the design of a large Trailer Suction Hopper Dredger. The SPV will only be present in Cambridge Gulf for one- to two-days each fortnight. Only a small proportion of the sand resource that is present in Cambridge Gulf will be sourced. At the end of the project the seabed depth within the operational area will be on average less than 1 meter deeper than the pre-project depth.
To support its feasibility assessment, Boskalis has undertaken a wide range of environmental, engineering, economic and other studies since 2018, as well as a comprehensive stakeholder engagement and consultation process, including with Traditional Owners. These studies find that the proposed action is feasible and viable and unlikely to cause significant environmental impacts. The full set of assessment reports is available at downloads.
Despite the low likelihood of significant environmental impacts, as a responsible company with stringent environmental and social policies, Boskalis self-referred the proposal under both the WA Environmental Protection Act, and the Commonwealth Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act). Both assessments are nearing completion in early 2026.
The purpose of this web site is to provide information to the general public about the proposal and the environmental assessment process.
Boskalis continues to consult with stakeholders and the community.
