A tidal breach at an island off the Sunshine Coast has been filled with sand to help protect coastal communities.
The 200m gap in Bribie Island, caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March, was closed in the early hours of this morning.
Caloundra Coast Guard commander Roger Pearce said it represented a defining moment in the four-stage emergency works project.
“It was absolutely wonderful, very emotional actually. I shed a tear,” he said
“It’s secured the tenure of the homes along Golden Beach and Diamond Head because they’re now safer, and that’s one massive step forward.”
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Drone operator Damien Lange, who took the video and photos in this article, was also at the site early on Thursday morning.
“I arrived at 4am to see that they had crossed over at about 1.30am,” he said.
“I have been documenting this for locals on YouTube every week and am completely fascinated with how the process has worked and to see the project unfold daily.
“I take my hat off to the Halls Contracting. It’s been great work through a six-and-a-half week process.”
He said there was an immediate impact.
“You can clearly see the inside of the Pumicestone Passage is so still and there are no waves passing through,” he said.
Work started in late September. A cutter section dredger has operated around the clock and almost two dozen personnel have engaged in work each day, with heavy machinery including bulldozers shifting sand into place, in a race against the clock to safeguard the area before summer storms arrive.
There was one hurdle, when an excavator required saving after it became bogged.
Fellow drone operator Doug Bazley, who is officially covering the project, said via his Bluey’s Photography social media that it was “a fantastic achievement” and “a new beginning” for the area.
The Pumicestone Passage Catchment Management Body said, also via social media, that it was a “remarkable milestone” after “months of incredible work, collaboration and community effort”.
“This engineering feat marks a crucial step forward in the emergency coastal protection works now underway, closing the Alfred breakthrough and reinforcing the island ahead of storm season, revegetating the area to strengthen it long-term and restoring safe access for the Coast Guard so they can continue their lifesaving work during emergencies,” it said.
“With a potentially intense cyclone season fast approaching, rebuilding and reinforcing this section of Bribie Island is not just an achievement, it’s a vital lifeline for protecting the low-lying suburbs of Golden Beach and Diamond Head, and for safeguarding Caloundra’s future. This milestone couldn’t have come a moment too soon.”
The closure of the breakthrough represented the first stage of the emergency works project.
Stage 2 will include shoring up a smaller tidal overflow area to the south.
Stage 3 will involve fortifying the stretch of land between the now-filled breakthrough and the much larger breakthrough to its north.
Stage 4 will include the creation of a channel in the Pumicestone Passage for boaties.
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. The events contributed to changed tides, shifting sands, the closure of the Caloundra Bar and erosion on the mainland.
Authorities are also considering a bold recommendation to fill the initial breakthrough, which is about 1.5km wide, and reopen the Caloundra Bar.
Member for Caloundra Kendall Morton was delighted to see the project reach a milestone.
“This is a huge step in the right direction,” she said.
“The Pumicestone Passage is a really important waterway for so many reasons for so many people.
“It is so reassuring and comforting to see our passage back to the way that it should be and know that our barrier island is there.”
She said work was about to start on closing the third breakthrough, which is essentially a small overwash area.
“A second dredge (could) arrive as early as next week to really get cracking on the closure,” she said, before adding that a report, outlining more longterm solutions and recommendations will be released by the end of the year.”
