Oside jury picks ICM for beach project
The recommendation heads to the City Council for approval; firm to begin final design phase, permitting and public outreach with construction estimated in 2026
OCEANSIDE — Years of work culminated with a winner for Oceanside’s RE:BEACH nourishment and replenishment competition as the jury selected the proposal from International Coastal Management on Thursday.
The Australia-based ICM’s design concept features “living speed bumps” and includes the construction of two small headlands stabilizing sand on the back beach with an offshore artificial reef slowing down nearshore erosive forces.
In an interview from his office in Australia, Aaron Salyer, a principal engineer for ICM, said his firm is thrilled with the jury’s decision. The recommendation will go before the City Council during a Jan. 31 workshop for final approval.
Residents can still provide feedback through the RE:BEACH website. The estimated cost for the project is $31 million.
“We were thrilled, and this is the perfect kind of job ICM does,” Sayler said. “This is right up our alley. We’re really thankful to be recognized as the team that could handle this project.”
Over the course of three public workshops from August through December, ICM and two other proposals — one from Deltares/MRDRV and the other from Scape — presented their vision for Oceanside’s south coastline. Salyer reiterated time and again how the Gold Coast of Australia was in Oceanside’s position of eroding and dilapidated beaches 40-plus years ago.
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