Whanganui beach sand issue: The problem is blowing in the wind 10 Mar, 2021 04:00 AM 3 minutes to read Laurel Stowell is a reporter for the Whanganui Chroniclelaurel.stowell@whanganuichronicle.co.nzWhangaChron An annual spend of $50,000 to shift sand around on Castlecliff Beach is "dumb" and people who want it changed should tell the Whanganui District Council, councillor James Barron says. The long-time problem of windblown sand at Castlecliff Beach became a focus for the Coastal Restoration Trust conference's free workshop Working with Nature on Tuesday, March 9. Before leading the 70 participants out into the dunes, Castlecliff Coast Care co-ordinator Graham Pearson said the council spent about $40,000 a year on shifting sand and driftwood off the swimming area by the Surf Club, only for westerly winds and longshore drift to bring it back.