A heavy machine bogged in sand for about 48 hours has been freed and dredging is “powering ahead” at a major island restoration site.
The excavator was recovered on Tuesday morning and was being assessed after initially becoming trapped off the coast of Caloundra in the early hours of Sunday.
It’s a key piece of equipment for a major ‘emergency works’ project that involves filling two tidal breakthroughs in Bribie Island with sand before the summer storms arrive, to better protect coastal communities.
Sunshine Coast News understands the incident did not significantly impact works and the overall program remains on track.
The excavator was bogged in a soft and dynamic area, no personnel were injured and established procedures were in place to manage such occurrences in dredging and reclamation works.
Want more free local news? Follow Sunshine Coast News on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, and sign up for our FREE daily news email.
Precautionary measures were undertaken including equipment isolation, with additional equipment mobilised to the site to assist with recovery and maintain continuity of operations.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie told Sunshine Coast News that the project was progressing.
“Dredging is powering ahead with 24/7 works following community feedback and expert advice to restore coastal resilience, safeguard infrastructure and protect public safety ahead of the storm season,” he said.
Mr Bleijie said the project was “decisive action to protect Bribie Island and the Pumicestone Passage, ensuring a timely response to this complex coastal system”.
The project was implemented after an independent review of the Bribie Island breakthroughs recommended that action be taken to restore the island to shield mainland Golden Beach from the elements.
