Two popular Sunshine Coast beaches are set to reinforced with sand from the Maroochy River.
Alexandra Headland and Maroochydore beaches will be replenished during the next few months, to provide a buffer against erosion.
About 100,000 cubic metres of sand – enough to fill the equivalent of 10,000 trucks – will be pumped in from the lower Maroochy River.
The campaign, to run from June until September, will include sand being placed outside of areas that were focused on late last year during the Nearshore Nourishment Trial.
This project will include the zone in front of Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club. The club’s general manager called for more sand there late last year.
Sunshine Coast Division 4 Councillor Joe Natoli said the Maroochydore Beach Renourishment Project had protected the popular location since it started in 2013.
“About every two years council replenishes the sand along Maroochydore Beach to widen the beach and uphold the erosion buffer,” he said.
“The buffer protects important community infrastructure such as the surf lifesaving towers, viewing decks, car parks, roads, park and playgrounds from severe erosion caused by storms, swells and weather events.
“This buffer needs to be approximately 50m wide to provide protection to these areas during an extreme storm.
“Sand renourishment, dune revegetation and protection, and limiting beach access points are all part of the current shoreline management approach on Maroochydore Beach, which is expected to continue for many years to come.”
How it will work
The project uses an existing pipeline that has been in place since 2013.
A small cutter suction dredge and two booster pumps are used to move the sand from the river to the beach.
The dredge will remain in the river throughout the project.
The booster pumps are needed to push the sand up the entire length of the beach.
The booster pumps are stored in an insulated storage container to minimise noise and are located in the south-east corner of the car park at the end of Cotton Tree Parade and Memorial Avenue, opposite 6-8 Aerodrome Road.
Sand will then be pumped onto Maroochydore Beach, beginning at Okinja Road in the south and heading to Alexandra Headland SLSC, before moving north to the Maroochydore SLSC.
Access to some parts of the following areas will be restricted to ensure community safety, including:
- the car park at Cotton Tree Parade and Memorial Avenue;
- sections of Maroochydore and Alexandra Headland beaches during nourishment operations;
- the spit near the Cotton Tree Holiday Park;
- beach accesses 143, 152 and 154; and
- the park area opposite 6-8 Aerodrome Road.
Work will take place between 7am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, and on Saturdays if required.
More information on the program is available via Maroochydore Sand Renourishment.
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