This soft engineering solution has been shown to be effective and environmentally acceptable in combating the erosive forces from wave action but specific conditions must be met for a beach drainage system to be effective. These conditions relate to,

	permeability, uniformity and depth of beach sand layer(s)
	wave & wind climate
	tidal dynamics
	the materials budget in the littoral drift zone.

Beach drainage can be used in combination with beach nourishment where it is identified that there is insufficient material within a ‘closed system’ or to eliminate /reduce the need for continual re-nourishment.

The potential advantages of a beach drainage system include,

	the discreet nature and minimal environmental impact of the operating system compared with nourishment or existing hard engineering solutions
	provision of a buffer zone from storm events and seasonal erosion and improved recovery time to pre-storm equilibrium following storm events
	improved amenity value for recreational beaches by increasing the available high tide beach width and providing a dry beach surface between the tides
	natural dune growth and rehabilitation will be encouraged adjacent to the installed system due to the increased availability of wind blown sand
	much better ‘natural character’ outcomes compared with hard engineering (no visible structure)
	the cost per meter of coastal protection can be much lower than other solutions but this is dependent on system length and other cost sensitive factors
	the system may offer an easier route through consent procedures.