$7.8m beach protection pipeline underway
Explore Councils by state
A critical section of our city’s foreshore will be better protected thanks to smart engineering – and a 7.8 kilometre pipeline.
“The ocean beach section from Surfers, north to the seaway, is exposed to heavy swells especially if the wave energy is coming directly east,’’ said Mayor Tom Tate.
“This 7.8km pipeline will replenish the foreshore, delivering around 120,000 cubic metres of sand back on to the beach.’’
The system is designed to extract sand from the existing Sand Pumping Jetty at The Spit and move it back towards Surfers before releasing it on to the beach.
Local company See Civil Pty Ltd won the stage two contract and is now on-site. The total budget for the pipeline is $7.8 million.
“This project complements our ongoing investment in beach protection programs,’’ he said.
Key projects in recent years include:
artificial reefs at Palm Beach and Narrowneck;the construction of seawalls along the coast; andthe ‘sand rainbowing’ project in 2017 (Gold Coast Beach Nourishment) which replenished the majority of beaches with three million cubic metres of sand.“The majority of this pipeline (6.3km) will be underground. When needed, council staff will connect 1.5km of temporary above ground pipe that will direct the sand to where it is needed.’’
State Government environmental approvals have been secured with independent studies confirming that the project would have no adverse impact on surfing amenity on South Stradbroke Island.
The project is due to be completed in 2022.
Go to: https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/sand-backpass-pipeline-project-53459.html