Mayor seeks solution to decade-long practice of shifting tonnes of beach sand

Mayor says moving “sacrificial sand” from a precious Great Keppel Island beach to protect a resort from erosion was a short-term solution that has gone on for too long.

Giant sandbags protect the resort buildings at Putney Beach on Great Keppel Island. Fisherman’s Beach is in the background, Picture: Liam Kidston

The removal of tonnes and tonnes of “sacrificial sand” from Great Keppel Island’s Fisherman’s Beach to protect Putney Beach from erosion has been going on for a decade and needs to stop, says Livingstone Shire Mayor Adam Belot.

But Cr Belot, who visited the island last week, said finding a solution to the ongoing threat of erosion facing the Hideaway resort was a challenge far beyond the scope of council’s ability.

He said the current practice, approved by council in 2015 after Cyclone Marcia damage, allows the Hideaway to transfer sand from Fisherman Beach’s to dump on the giant sandbag revetment walls at Putney Beach that protect the resort’s buildings and infrastructure.

Photos taken on Great Keppel Island in 2017 show further damage at weather ravaged Putney Beach.

He said the Putney Beach erosion was now the number one threat facing the island’s tourism industry.

“A long-term solution hasn’t yet been found and we do need to get all levels of government, motivated people in the highest places of authority, to come together and convene a strategic think tank of sorts,” he said.

“I put forward a motion, I think eight years ago, that the solution needs to be reviewed, and we still see nothing resolved and we see this untenable situation.

“We have got the situation where we are digging up tonnes and tonnes of sand off Fisherman’s Beach and dumping that sand onto the sausage bags because those bags need to be covered. That’s how they were originally engineered and that sand is then very quickly washed out into the bay.

“That cycle has been repeating itself ever since that job began.”

Capricornia MP Michelle Landry inspecting the site for Putney Beach sand bagging in 2017.

He said it was illogical to continue that practice.

“It was a short-term solution that has gone on for far too long,” he said.

“Fisherman’s Beach is being impacted negatively by it. Vegetation can’t grow on that beach where they take the sacrificial sand from, that’s the terminology used.”

He said the Hideaway faces enormous ongoing expense to move the sand with heavy earthmoving equipment kept on site and a huge amount of diesel required for the work.

At a council meeting on Tuesday, February 4, councillors voted for representations be made to the Queensland Government to support the development of a Shoreline Erosion Management Plan for Putney and Fisherman’s beaches at Great Keppel Island.

GKI, with an arrow (left) showing the spit between Fisherman's (Main) Beach and Putney Beach.

The report stated council as a key stakeholder will proactively liaise with the State to progress the GKI Rejuvenation Project and advocate for risk reduction and planned transition/relocation of infrastructure where necessary.

Council will also liaise with the State and share updated coastal hazard mapping and risk assessment outcomes.

The Hideaway was approached for comment.