Emergency work is about to begin on filling two gaps in an island off the Sunshine Coast.
A site compound is being established at Golden Beach and dredging will start this month in and around the Pumicestone Passage, in an urgent effort to restore sections of Bribie Island and provide coastal communities with a buffer from erosion.
The state government-led action comes after three tidal breakthroughs occurred at the northern end of the island – the first in early 2022 and the second and third this year (see Damien Lange’s video below).
The events have contributed to changed tides, shifting sands, the closure of the Caloundra Bar and erosion on the mainland.
The government committed $20 million and announced contractors to seal two of the breaches with sand after an independent assessment was carried out.
Authorities are also considering a bold recommendation to fill the initial breakthrough, which is about 1.5km wide, and reopen the Caloundra Bar.
Queensland Coordinator-General Gerard Coggan was directed to undertake the emergency dredging works.
He said it would “address the southern breakthroughs and buffering of Bribie Island and enhance protection of Golden Beach and the Pumicestone Passage”.
“The Office of the Coordinator-General is currently working with its technical consultants and dredging contractors to complete the design, methodology and schedule, which will determine key milestones, as well as the dredge locations, vessels and equipment, and any other requirements to deliver the works,” Mr Coggan said.
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Dredging works are expected to start this month.
Mr Coggan said several sand resource areas had been identified within the passage and at Hamilton Patches, which is east of the island, to support the works.
A site compound is being established at Woorim Park in Golden Beach to house materials and equipment such as piping for the dredge, welding equipment, a mobile crane and a site hut.
The pipe launching area is located north of the Caloundra Power Boat Club and will be used to transition strings of pipe into the passage.
The scope of the emergency works is informed by expert independent technical advice and recent community consultation.
Locals had their say on immediate and urgent actions to reduce the risks caused by erosion and breakthrough events. There was also a town hall event attended by hundreds of residents, who learned more about the proposed solutions.
