A sand nourishment project at a dog off-leash beach has been recognised with a prestigious engineering award.
The Noosa Spit Doggy Beach sand nourishment project, which involved moving 85,000 cubic metres of sand, won the Coastal Engineering Award at the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia Queensland Northern Territory Excellence Awards in Brisbane.
The awards recognise projects that deliver exceptional outcomes for Queensland and Northern Territory communities.
Noosa Council CEO Larry Sengstock said the award was outstanding recognition for an exceptional project.
“Receiving this award is a great acknowledgment of Noosa Council’s commitment to protecting our coastlines in a way that utilises innovation and technical excellence, while respecting the environment and community needs,” he said.
“The Noosa Spit Dog Beach Sand Renourishment Project faced several complex challenges, including redirecting river flows and managing works within a limited seasonal window to protect nesting migratory birds.
“I’m incredibly proud of our council team and Hall Contractors who worked so hard to deliver this project two months ahead of schedule.”
The innovative project was part of the Noosa Council Shoreline Erosion Management Plan that protects the Noosa River Estuary and the Noosa Sound, and includes the dredging program for the dog beach.
It involved dredging and depositing sand from designated collection zones to restore the eroded foreshore at Doggy Beach and also realign the main river channel.
This realignment was achieved without the use of rocks or geotextile bags, ensuring a better outcome for the surrounding environment.
The project also maintained safe access for marine traffic throughout the work period.
“I’d like to extend my gratitude to everyone involved in this project, especially council staff Cody Johnston, Michael Balestra and Craig Eldridge, who did an outstanding job managing this project,” Mr Sengstock said.
He also thanked the Noosa community for supporting sustainable coastal management efforts that protect special places for generations to come.
The project was jointly funded by Noosa Council in partnership with the Australian and Queensland governments.
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