Urbanisation of coastal areas has led to natural dune systems being replaced with human infrastructure. This has prevented the natural cycling of sand and caused a sand deficit along many coastlines around the world, including the Adelaide metropolitan coast in South Australia. Sand management practices as nourishment programs (i.e. pumping and trucking) are in place to move sand from beaches that accrete to ones that erode, as well as supplementing beaches with sand from terrestrial origins. Studies globally have identified an overall negative impact of beach nourishment on the abundance and diversity of infauna communities, however species-specific responses are variable. This study investigated responses of infauna macroinvertebrates to sand management regimes that have been occurring for decades. To determine the influence of sand management upon macroinvertebrates along the Adelaide metropolitan coastline, a series of seasonal surveys including beach morphology and environmental characteristics were taken before, during, and after nourishment activities. We found that there were less macroinvertebrates and community complexity on beaches with nourishment occurring, but also influenced by coastal engineering. Results from this study will provide new insights to coastal managers of potential ecological impacts and recovery times of sand nourishment programs on sandy beaches in metropolitan areas.