A second high-powered dredge has arrived as emergency works to stabilise Bribie Island continue, with officials reporting strong progress across two recently closed breakthrough points.
Breakthrough No.3 was successfully closed on November 28, concluding Stage 2 of the project, and came weeks after the 200m-wide Breakthrough No.2 was filled to finish Stage 1.
Attention is now on Stage 3, which involves fortifying the stretch of land between the much larger Breakthrough No.1 further north and the now-filled breakthroughs (see main image above and map below). Stage 4 will include the creation of a channel in the Pumicestone Passage for boaties.
Work started in late September and is on track for completion in April.
Drone operator Damien Lange from Droner.au has captured progress on the project, including the arrival of the second dredge. Scroll down to see his video and more images.
Sunshine Coast-based firm Hall Contracting, which is conducting the works, posted to social media last weekend to announce the arrival of the new dredge.
“Our cutter suction dredge Warraber has officially arrived in Caloundra to support critical works underway at Bribie Island,” it said.
“Powered by 675hp, Warraber will work alongside the existing dredge, Arnhem, pumping around 200 cubic metres of sand per hour. Combined, the two dredges will now move an impressive 600 cubic metres of sand every hour – significantly boosting progress on this important emergency project.
“Great to see the team and equipment coming together to protect the coastline and community.”
The Arnhem 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.
There was one hurdle, when an excavator required saving after it became bogged.
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Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie told Sunshine Coast News his government was committed to long-term action to safeguard Bribie Island and the Pumicestone Passage.
“We recently announced a further $25 million of funding to deliver long-term planning for Bribie Island and Pumicestone Passage and support ongoing emergency works and reaffirm our commitment to the local community,” he said.
“Following the release of the final Bribie Island Erosion and Breakthrough Review, the Crisafulli Government is developing comprehensive program of works aimed at ensuring lasting protection for the coastline.
“On November 13, Breakthrough No.2 was successfully closed, followed shortly by the closure of Breakthrough No.3 on November 28.
“Working alongside the Arnhem, the second dredger, Warraber, will accelerate the emergency works by undertaking beach renourishment between Breakthroughs No.1 and No.3.”
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Local community group the Pumicestone Passage Catchment Management Body has also hailed the project, with a social media post saying spokesperson Jen Kettleton-Butler inspected the works on Friday.
“Jen went out for a very early fish this morning and checked on the island on the way back in,” it said.
“Very pleased to report: the factory gutter section (Breakthrough No.3) is looking strong and high and wide; the stockpile is growing rapidly with the new dredge operating; and the ex-Alfred breakthrough (No.2) is solid.”
RPS Consulting, which conducted the independent review, has also recommended to fill breakthrough No.1 and reopen the Caloundra Bar, which has become clogged with sand.
Initial investigations indicated about 100,000 cubic metres of sand would be required to infill the thee breakthroughs that occurred following ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred earlier this year.
Since the first breakthrough in 2022, a range of impacts to Pumicestone Passage have become evident, including the closure of the Caloundra Bar.
