Sand replenishment to buffer erosion at popular Sunshine Coast beaches

Two popular Sunshine Coast beaches, Alexandra Headland and Maroochydore beaches, are to have their sand replenished making them even more attractive to walkers and swimmers.

The sand replenishment over the cooler and usually calmer months will provide a buffer against erosion.

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.

It is expected that about 100,000m3 of sand – enough to fill the equivalent of 10,000 trucks  – will be pumped in from the lower Maroochy River.

The campaign, which will run from June to September, will place sand outside of the areas focused on in late 2022 as part of the Nearshore Nourishment Trial.

This project will include the zone in front of Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club.

Sunshine Coast Division 4 Councillor Joe Natoli said the Maroochydore Beach Renourishment Project had been successfully protecting the popular location since it began in 2013.

“About every two years council replenishes the sand along Maroochydore Beach to widen the beach and uphold the erosion buffer,” Cr Natoli said.

“This buffer needs to be approximately 50 metres wide to provide 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.”

Image. Maroochydore Beach Alexandra Headland. Credit: Sunshine Coast Council