The state government has announced short and long-term strategies to manage shoaling in a hazardous river mouth that claimed the life of a Sunshine Coast boatie.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie and Minister for Transport Brent Mickelberg today outlined a range of measures, including deepening the entrance channel, at the Mooloolah River, which is the gateway to the region’s main harbour.
The announcement followed an independent review in September, after the tragic death of experienced skipper Robert ‘Smithy’ Smith in August.
The review provided comprehensive recommendations to manage shoaling in the area, which has previously been labelled “dangerous” and “risky”.
Short term measures will include: continuing routine and targeted dredging using cutter suction dredgers; improving monitoring and modelling to enable faster, more targeted dredging; considering trailing suction hopper dredgers (a different dredge type) as supplementary equipment meaning greater resources for reactive dredging; engaging with a dredging contractor to explore the availability and cost for rapid‑response dredging when required.
Help us deliver more by registering for our FREE daily news feed. All it requires is your email at the bottom of this article.
A long-term approach to managing shoaling will have two stages.
Stage one will including dredging the Buddina Sand Trap, which will remove 100,000 cubic metres of sand from the trap and place it on Sunshine Coast beaches. It is expected this work will occur across 2026-27.
Stage two will involve deepening the entrance channel, by excavating the underlying rock to increase the entrance channel depth. It is expected this work will commence in 2026-27.
The government will implement the short and long-term strategies, with tenders to carry out the work to open in the coming weeks.
Mr Mickelberg said the state government was determined to address the shoaling.
“Robert’s death was felt by the entire Sunshine Coast boating community,” he said.
“We acted quickly to commission an independent review to develop a strategy to keep the boating community as safe as possible.”
The government’s response to the review comes less than a week after the introduction of legislation to create a Sunshine Coast Waterways Authority, which will give locals a greater say in how their waterways are managed.
Minister Mickelberg said the SCWA will take long-term responsibility for managing the Mooloolah River bar and implementing recommendations from the review.
“With hearings set to commence, it is an opportunity for locals to shape how SCWA looks, and ensure it can effectively manage waterways from the Pumicestone Passage to the Noosa River.”
Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson said the outcome of the independent review was a direct result of community advocacy.
“The community has long fought for long-term solutions to manage shoaling and create safer access at the mouth of the Mooloolah River, and the Crisafulli Government is delivering,” she said.
Deputy Premier and Member for Kawana Jarrod Bleijie welcomed the establishment of the SCWA following the review.
“This swift action is delivering practical recommendations to help keep local boaties safe,” he said.
“The Crisafulli Government is listening to the concerns of the local community.
Member for Caloundra Kendall Morton said the SCWA was an important step in making waterways safer through local involvement.
“Locals can shape the Sunshine Coast Waterway Authority, and I would encourage everyone who loves our waterways to make a submission and help ensure local voices are part of the conversation in managing and protecting our waterways,” she said.
Sunshine Coast News has asked the government how relocating sand from the Buddina Sand Trap will help address shoaling in the river mouth, and has asked how much the long-term solutions could cost and is awaiting responses.
More than $5 million has been spent on intermittently dredging the river mouth during a five-year period in a bid to keep the critical waterway open amid increased shoaling.
