A large section of foreshore ravaged by the elements will be rebuilt in coming months.
A 3220sqm area at First Bay at Coolum Beach will be rehabilitated from November until May, after a significant landslip took place there in early 2022.
It was the largest landslip among 15 landslips that occurred on the Sunshine Coast during a severe storm event.
The slip was triggered by heavy rain causing excessive surface water runoff, weakening the road and drainage substructures, which caused a slump on the sloped face.
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said works would start soon on the site, which is next to busy David Low Way.
“It is considered a complex construction given the proximity to the main road and impact on the public, the steepness of the cliff and the sensitive coastal environment,” they said.
“The site has been assessed as a non-marine coastal zone and consists of a foredune sea cliff, host to medium-sparse woody vegetation coverage of low-moderate level weed presence with areas of Asparagus aethiopicus (asparagus fern) and Macroptilium atropurpureium (Siratro).”
The spokesperson said the landslip did not impact residents, as it happened in a section of unused land. But precautions were taken to restrict walkers and cyclists from going into the area.
“To ensure the community’s safety, council erected fencing to restrict public access and to prevent pedestrian access into the landslip area, while still enabling residents to enjoy the outlook,” they said.
A tender process is underway to award the reconstruction works.
Council has conducted engineering designs and site vegetation rehabilitation assessments, which form part of the open tender, due to close this month.
The works are part of a $40.8 million program of works that council is undertaking to restore essential public assets within the region, following the storm event in 2022.
Sunshine Coast Council was provided with Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, which is run by the Australian and Queensland governments and provides assistance to eligible councils and local communities with their disaster recovery.
Council has been working with the Queensland Reconstruction Authority on eligible DRFA recovery projects to strengthen the disaster resilience for the Sunshine Coast.
The spokesperson detailed the work that would be done at First Bay.
“The scope will include internal and external structural surveys and dilapidation reports; general earthwork site preparation, demolition and stripping; construction of shear pile wall; installation of barriers, drainage, footpath, and line marking; (and) installation of pavement and rehabilitation of vegetation,” they said.
“Council’s priority is to deliver the works on time through implementing a clearly staged works methodology that ensures safety and protection of the community and local ecology, while minimising disruptive impacts.
“The project will ensure the safety and stability of the road, path and vegetated foredune sea cliff face and ensure ongoing access to the bay.”
The works are set to start in two months and should be finished by the end of May.
Once construction begins, a traffic management plan will be implemented. Some parking spaces and pedestrian access to the footpath will not be available.
Access to the beach will be maintained, subject to construction staging and safety assessments.
The landslip is not the first at First Bay.
A “small slip” occurred at the southern end of the bay about 12 years ago.
It was repaired with rock fill remediation replacement.
“The threat to the public from further events is considered low,” the spokesperson said.
The aerial imagery in this story is from Australian location intelligence company Nearmap. The company provides government organisations, architectural, construction and engineering firms, and other companies, with easy, instant access to high-resolution aerial imagery, city-scale 3D content, artificial intelligence data sets, and geospatial tools to assist with urban planning, monitoring and development projects in Australia, New Zealand and North America.
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