Beach works underway

Beach restoration works are underway across the Gold Coast – with locals and visitors urged to stay clear of heavy machinery.“These are large scale work sites so please give the machinery a wide berth,’’ said Mayor Tom Tate.“We will be taking advantage of reduced swells and winds to quickly restore the beaches to their best.“Despite the huge swells, our beaches held up exceptionally well thanks to the $30-million-plus investment in a range of beach measures over the last five years.“These include our annual sand dredging and pumping at Currumbin and Tallebudgera creeks. These works deliver around 60,000 cubic metres of sand on to our beaches every year.“In 2017, we invested $13.9 million on an historic sand dredging and sand ‘rain-bowing’ project. That delivered three million cubic metres on to our beaches, from an area just behind the wave zone.“Sand lost from this recent event is now laying out the back of the main break. Nature will push that sand back on to our beaches over the next six to 12 months but we will give it a helping hand with the works we are undertaking today.’’Mayor Tate yesterday launched the $18.2 million Palm Beach Artificial Reef project. It will start in April and be finished by October 2020.Facts:We are currently experiencing erosion scarps from north Surfers Paradise to the Spit of up to 5 metres in sectionsNarrowneck has 2-3 metre scarpsSurfers Paradise has up to 1m erosion scarpsSouthport SLSC has 3 metre scarps with adjacent areas to the north up to 5mMinor scarps along Tugun and Palm Beach of up to 1mAreas from Burleigh to Miami, as well as Rainbow Bay and North Kirra, have experienced no damage.27 beaches from Surfers Paradise south through to Rainbow Bay are open to swimmingAll beaches north of Surfers Paradise are closed and access is blocked off.  Feature video: Not featuredHomepage featured: