COASTAL SEDIMENTOLOGY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY OF A BEACH COMPARTMENT ON LAZARUS ISLAND

Abstract

In 1996, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore published the Southern Islands Planning Area Planning Report 1996, which indicated the intention of constructing a tropical residential marina at Sentosa, Seringat and Lazarus Islands. Included in this proposal is a causeway stretching across Cooper Channel which will link Lazarus Island to St. John's Island. This study examines the sediment dynamics which is expected to be significantly affected with the construction of the causeway. The sediment compartmentalization concept is used as a basis for the examination of the sediment dynamics within a beach compartment on Lazarus Island. Results from a two-month study show a large weekly volumetric change in sediments in the intertidal section of the beach compartment. With this, it can be expected that annually, rapid and large volumes of loose sediments projected in a wider context, will cause a management issue that needs to be handled effectively if environmental impacts are to be kept to a minimum.