An excavator moved in on Thursday to start the $100,000 rehabilitation work that will see 3,000 tonnes of sand moved from the shallows to create a public beach.

Sandbags and rock walls will be used to reduce sand erosion.

Shoalhaven City Council’s Ulladulla manager Warwick Papworth said the entrance management project was an initiative between council and the NSW Office of the Environment and Heritage aimed at improving the entrance.

He said small rock groynes coming out from the existing retaining wall would hold sand and provide beach nourishment.

“The aim is to provide public access along the beach and try and lock up some of the sand in the entrance area to assist with management of the entrance in future.”

Machinery will work in the entrance at low tide over the next two weeks.

Council’s environmental services manager Kelie Lowe said council held community consultation and onsite meetings with residents before the plan was approved.

“Council also consulated with the Office of Environment and Heritage and also Fisheries to ensure work would not impact on seagrasses and the work is being done at this time of year to avoid seabird nesting areas,” she said.

“The work will result in a better outcome for the beach, with better public access where the beach has been eroded.”