Maroochydore Beach sand replenishment project to begin again

Sunshine Coast Regional Council has advised that a project to improve beach amenity and provide long-term protection of the foreshore between Alexandra Headlands and Cotton Tree is to commence in August and will run for two months.

A small dredge will be assembled at Mudjimba and remain off the coastline throughout the project while it is used to pump 50,000metre3 of sand from the lower Maroochy River.

The sand will also backfill the Maroochy groyne field, which is currently being replaced at the mouth of the Maroochy River.

Sunshine Coast Divisional Councillor Joe Natoli said that since the Maroochydore Beach Renourishment Project began in 2013 it had successfully protected the well-loved location and added “about every two years council replenishes the sand along Maroochydore Beach to widen the beach and uphold the erosion buffer.

“The buffer protects important community infrastructure such as the surf lifesaving towers, viewing decks, car parks, roads, park and playgrounds from severe erosion caused by storms, swells and weather events.

“This buffer needs to be approximately 50 metres wide to provide certainty of protection to these areas during an extreme storm.

“Sand renourishment, dune revegetation and protection, and limiting beach access points are all part of the current shoreline management approach on Maroochydore Beach which is expected to continue for many years to come.”

Sand pumping will begin around the Maroochydore groyne field from 1st August using a pipeline that has been in place since 2013.

Sand will then be pumped along Maroochydore Beach, beginning at Alexandra Headland in the south before moving north to the Maroochydore SLSC.

Image courtesy of Sunshine Coast Regional Council