A seawall to protect a Sunshine Coast naval cadets site from increased exposure due the Bribie Island breakthrough is being built with the flexibility to add height in the future.
Sunshine Coast Council is partnering with the Federal and State governments to re-construct the seawall from Nelson St to the TS Onslow Naval Cadets site at Golden Beach.
Division 2 Councillor Terry Landsberg said the foreshore was initially impacted by the extraordinary weather events of 2021 and 2022, with subsequent widening of the Bribie Island breakthrough increasing the coastal hazard risk to the site and other parts of Golden Beach.
“This project will protect the valuable park, coastal pathway and road near the seawall from coastal hazards,” Cr Landsberg said.
“It will also provide better access to the water, with overall beach and waterway access increasing to two new staircases and two 4-metre-wide ramps.”
He said work would include building a 208m rock seawall and concrete stepped wall, construction of two staircases and integrated beach access ramp with added landscaping.
“We’ll also reconstruct the damaged boat ramp at the Navy Cadets site, enhance the surrounding parklands, improve beach accessibility and the coastal pathway along the Esplanade.”
Cr Landsberg said a physical seawall model was built and tested at Manly Hydraulics Laboratory to optimise the design.
“The modelling and testing helped confirm the seawall is designed to be fit for purpose to protect against storms and waves in this location.”
He said most of the seawall length would be a combination of placed rock and concrete walls, as this design was easily adaptable in the future by adding extra layers of rock or higher walls.
“The northern section will feature sandstone-coloured concrete benches with a 4-metre-wide beach access ramp, which will provide excellent beach accessibility for the community to enjoy swimming and a range of water sports.”
Cr Landsberg said works were expected to start in mid-June and be completed by early December 2025.
He said an exclusion zone would be established around the site for public safety, with signed detours for pedestrian safety.
“You will still be able to enjoy the coastal pathway and the beach in front of Beach Access 319a, and access businesses nearby.”
