The Caloundra Coast Guard has moored its largest vessel at a new marina, to get around a logjam of sand that has become more prominent in recent weeks.
The marine rescue group has lodged its 10.2m Naiad at the Pelican Waters Marina, which is due to officially open soon.
It will provide it with a much-needed launching pad to the open ocean.
Its headquarters at Caloundra, 5km away, has essentially been hemmed in by sand, particularly at low tide, since a tidal breakthrough at nearby Bribie Island early last year.
The situation has become dire in recent weeks, with more sand building up at the old Caloundra Bar and across the passage next to Golden Beach.
Caloundra Coast Guard commander Roger Pearce said the boat’s new home was necessary and timely.
“We can’t get in or out (from HQ), except on a high tide, so we needed to move the boat to the marina, so we have got full access to the sea,” he said.
The boat can accommodate 10 people.
A crew of four or five will drive from HQ to the marina and utilise the boat each morning.
“And we have access to the boat 24/7, which is perfect,” Mr Pearce said.
Coast Guard has two other vessels, measuring 7m and 5m, which are based at HQ and can be towed to ramps in the region.
Coast Guard started discussions with the marina a couple of months ago, before signing a one-year agreement to keep the vessel there.
“The marina has been fair and will accept a lesser fee,” Mr Pearce said.
It’s estimated to cost just under $10,000 for a year, or just under $200 per week.
Mr Pearce said Coast Guard was in talks with Sunshine Coast Council to try to get some financial support.
Meanwhile, he said the spit across the passage had become more pronounced this month.
“In the last two weeks, it has closed quite substantially,” he said.
“At low tide you can walk across there.”
Two vessels have become stuck in the northern end of the passage recently, including a local boat and a visiting yacht that broke its rudder attempting to enter the passage via the old Caloundra Bar.
It is hoped the latter can be taken back to open sea when the tide suits.
Mr Pearce said many people had dubbed the northern end of the passage – near Bulcock Beach – a pond because of a lack of water movement.
“I’d love to see some dredging in the passage (to allow direct access and) to keep the water fresh in the pond,” Mr Pearce said.
“People are complaining about the water quality. They’re walking around and feeling the sludge under their feet.
“It is going to be an ongoing issue.”
A Department of Environment and Science spokesperson told Sunshine Coast News earlier this month that water tests had been conducted and water quality in the area had been unaffected.
Mr Pearce said the weather could yet change conditions again and the spit in the passage could potentially break open.
“All we need is a bit of a low-pressure system to stall here and we would get more water in the pond, which it would need to break free,” he said.
“But we’ve made the decision to book the marina for a year, and we’ll wait and see what happens.”
