Erosion of the sand beaches at Newport Waterways has resulted in sand from the upper beach being deposited under pontoons and vessels which can lead to grounding damage at very low tides. Following a site inspection, the main cause of erosion was identified as being uncontrolled stormwater run-off from the residential properties facing the canal. The man-made sand canals are also an ideal breeding environment for C. molestus (biting midges), which lay their eggs in the moist and relatively clean intertidal areas of the canal, causing significant nuisance to residents. A feasibility study was undertaken to develop several long-term treatment options for beach restoration and midge control that result in low maintenance beaches. Gravel was selected as the preferred material to armour the sand beaches and dissipate energy from the stormwater run-off. The gravel was also used to create a habitat less conducive to midge breeding, based on information obtained from research papers, discussions with local universities and inspection of other canals. Sampling has confirmed the effectiveness of the gravel in reducing midge numbers.