Around 100,000 cubic metres of sand – equivalent to 10,000 truckloads – will be pumped into the beach at Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast over the next four months.
The sand will be pumped onto the stretch between the Cotton Tree groynes and the Alexandra Headland seawall from May to September, 2026.
Sunshine Coast Council Principal Coastal Engineer Georgia Keeshan said the pumping was part of a renourishment program that returned sand lost from the beach during weather events.
“Every two years, we gather sand from the lower Maroochy River using a dredge and an existing pipeline, then booster pumps help move it back along the beach,” Ms Keeshan said.
“Our coastal modelling shows that Maroochydore Beach is particularly prone to storm erosion and often loses more sand than is returned during storms.”
Sunshine Coast Division 4 Councillor Joe Natoli said the Maroochydore Beach Renourishment Project had been successfully protecting the well-loved location since it began in 2013.
“Building this buffer protects important community infrastructure such as the surf lifesaving towers, viewing decks, car parks, roads, park and playgrounds,” Cr Natoli said.
To ensure the full volume of sand is returned to the beach, the Council has applied for a permit to extend its program into October if needed and enable sand to be sourced from a slightly wider area of the river.
Around 100,000 cubic metres of sand will be pumped onto the beach from the lower Maroochy River using a small cutter suction dredge.
Works will take place along the shoreline between beach access points 143 (Cotton Tree) and 156 (Alex Skate Park).
Two temporary booster pumps will assist in moving sand along the beach at the following locations.
- South-east corner of the Cotton Tree Beach car park from May
- A park south of Maroochy Beach Holiday Park
To reduce noise impacts, the booster pumps will operate from within insulated containers and may run between 7am and 6pm on weekdays, and Saturdays if required.
Temporary access restrictions will be in place around work areas for public safety, including parts of:
- Cotton Tree Beach car park
- Sections of Maroochydore Beach
- The spit near Cotton Tree Holiday Park
- Parkland south of Maroochy Beach Holiday Park
- Beach Access 155 (opposite Okinja Rd)
Updates, maps and safety information will be available on Council’s website throughout the project. See here.
