A Wollongong councillor called the need to reshape Port Kembla Beach dunes a "senseless waste of money".
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However, Port Kembla Surf Lifesaving Club president and council staff deemed the $114,000 worth of work a vital safety requirement.
Wollongong City Council voted to award the tender to Stefanutti Construction Pty Ltd for the removal of dune vegetation and beach re-profiling in front of the club.
At the Monday council meeting, Cr Mithra Cox said the dune reshaping "seems like an exercise in futility".
"From what I can understand we want to bulldoze some of the dune vegetation to make the beach a little bit wider," the Greens councillor said.
"The vegetation will eventually grow back and we will have to do it again.
"The beach is a really dynamic environment. Sometimes there is a sandbar, sometimes there is seaweed all over the beach, sometimes there is seaweed in the pool, sometimes vegetation comes quite close and sometimes the sand can get washed away.
"It is a large amount of money [to spend]. On its face value and from the research I have done I can not support [this exercise]."
Surf lifesaving club president Dave Erskine said the re-profiling was worth the investment and welcomed the work.
"As soon as someone dies because of a lack of vision then there will be all hell to pay," he said.
"When there is a strong southerly, the sand builds up in front of our shed.
"The build up of sand stops us getting our safety equipment and patrol gear onto the beach.
"It happens about four times a season."
Mr Erskine said the club had to carry the equipment by hand and were required to schedule the sand removal work with the council when the build up occurred.
Cr Ann Martin said all other Wollongong beaches had had the dune reshaped.
"It is not just access for the public but it is also the capacity for the surf club to move its equipment easily from their storage area out onto the beach, [which is of concern]," she said.
"Unless we do this work, it will be increasing difficult for them coming into the new season."
Ms Martin said council staff did a "huge amount of research" when deciding to carry out the dune reshaping at Wollongong beaches and scientific reports supported the work.
Cr Dom Figliomeni said the council had discussed the beach restoration project with the Aboriginal, surfing, beach and lifesaving communities.
"It is a problem that has built up over time," he said. "Anyone who goes to the beach can see the area of beach has reduced over time. This is restoring the public's access to the beach foreshore. It's an ongoing process."
