Rapid changes are occurring off the Sunshine Coast, where workers are rushing to reinforce an island and protect mainland suburbs before the arrival of summer storms.
A cutter section dredger is operating around the clock and almost two dozen personnel are engaged in work each day as efforts ramp up to restore the northern end of Bribie Island after it was split open by three tidal breakthroughs.
Sand is being shifted to fill two of the gaps and to shore up fragile sections of the isle, which provides a barrier to coastal communities Golden Beach and Pelican Waters.
Footage from drone operator Damien Lange (Droner.au), taken on Monday, showed the heavy machinery at work and a build-up of relocated sand, dispersed by contractors within just a couple of weeks.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the state government was taking “swift action” after an independent review suggested immediate measures be taken.
“The works are informed by community feedback and expert recommendations and will future proof Bribie Island and the Pumicestone Passage for years to come,” he said of the $20 million project.
“We promised we would urgently address these issues and we are delivering on that promise.”
The works are designed to restore coastal resilience, protect infrastructure, ensure public safety and reduce risk ahead of the next storm season, while laying the foundation for longer-term solutions.
The Office of the Coordinator-General appointed Sunshine Coast-based firm Hall Contracting to conduct the works, which includes closing and stabilising the two smaller breakthroughs, labelled No.2 and No.3.
It also involves renourishing and buffering the segment of island between those breakthroughs and the passage’s tidal entrance, which is the expansive breakthrough No.1.
The works also include creating a temporary channel between the northern end of passage and the tidal entrance.
The Arnhem, a cutter section dredger, started dredging on September 27 and moved to 24/7 operations within days. About 20 local operational personnel with Hall Contracting are engaged on any given day to deliver the works.
RPS Consulting, which conducted the review, has also recommended to fill breakthrough No.1 and reopen the Caloundra Bar, which has become clogged with sand. The state government is yet to announce a decision on whether the suggestion could become reality.
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Meanwhile, Mr Lange described the ever-changing scene at the island and within the passage.
“These guys working on the barge and machinery: they just plow along day and night, little by little, scoop by scoop,” he said.
“This is going to take some time.
“From Golden Beach, it looks like the sand dune they are creating is going across the breakthrough but it is pointing towards Golden Beach,” he said.
“The ramp (of dredged sand) has grown quite high with different machinery and lights … they are working through the night. They have widened the base of the ramp and curved it so the sand and water roll into the inner break mouth.
“(Some) local people are still very skeptical as to what is going to hold the sand in place and whether it is a waste of ratepayers’ money.
“I think there should be a sign with a QR code, which could take viewers to the procedure, stages and plans so it is easily seen instead of people jumping to conclusions and gossip.”
Mr Lange also said the water was murky along parts of the Caloundra coastline, as a result of the dredging.
“I went to go for a swim a Kings Beach on Sunday morning as it was out of the northerly wind and it was so dirty at low tide. There was no way I was going to put my head under water in that sludge yet Kings Beach is so crowded on weekends.”
