Engineering consultants BMT have been awarded a contract to improve management and safety of the Mooloolah River entrance.
The contract follows an independent review of the issues impacting the river entrance on the Sunshine Coast.
Dredging under existing contractual arrangements will continue to address sand build up caused by recent wave activity.
This will help ensure vessels can continue to transit the river entrance safely.
The review identified a two-stage approach to improve long-term navigation and accessibility, including options such as a Buddina Beach sand trap and channel deepening.
BMT will undertake future design, approvals and procurement activities that will help shape a long-term solution for the Mooloolaba Boat Harbour entrance.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said the contract award was a significant milestone.
“The Mooloolah River is the access point to the Mooloolaba Boat Harbour, which is a vital asset for the Sunshine Coast, supporting local businesses, tourism operators, the marine industry and thousands of recreational users each year,” Mr Mickelberg said.
“This contract award is a critical first step in delivering the long-term solutions identified through the independent review and ensuring the river entrance remains safe, accessible and reliable for years to come.”
The State Government commissioned the review in September 2025 after the death of experienced local skipper Robert “Smithy” Smith.
The review provided comprehensive recommendations to manage shoaling at the mouth of the Mooloolah River:
Stage 1 – Short term measures to manage safety risks while longer‑term works are developed
- Continue routine and targeted dredging using cutter suction dredgers.
- Improve monitoring and modelling to enable faster, more targeted dredging.
- Consider trailing suction hopper dredgers (a different dredge type) as supplementary equipment meaning greater resources for reactive dredging.
- Engage with dredging contractor to explore availability and cost for rapid‑response dredging when required.
Stage 2 – A long-term, two-stage approach to managing shoaling:
- Dredge the Buddina Sand Trap, which will remove 100,000 m³ of sand from the trap and place it on Sunshine Coast beaches. It is expected this work will occur across 2026-27.
- Deepen the Entrance Channel, by excavating the underlying rock to increase the entrance channel depth. It is expected this work will commence in 2026-27.
More details on the proposed work can be found here.
